Titus is haunting me. seriously. it seems like that book in the bible has come up in so many conversations, blogs i've read, and videos i've watched lately. in order to avoid a rather large neon sign that reads Titus falling on my car, last night i finally took the hint and sat down to read the scriptures again. for such a short book, Titus really packs a punch and receiving a gut punch i did.
according to Titus teaching sound doctrine is the order of the day, but teaching sound doctrine means that i need to actually live sound doctrine. yeah...about that.. in verses 2: 7-8 paul states, "show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us." i cannot even come up with all the ways i have failed at that today, much less this past week or this entire year in fact.
the Lord really exposed a major part of my life that is lacking. although i would consider myself to be a person of integrity who sees the grave importance of maintaining dignity and sound speech, more and more i realize that the "little" compromises i make here and there can begin to unravel my character and are causing me to be sinful and instead i look more like a person of this culture. this is especially damaging because i am a teacher in a public school full of lost students and students who believe they are christians but are misguided due to unbiblical principles and the lies the secular world tries to sell us. living sound doctrine is not only essential for my life, but also the lives of my students, co-workers, friends and family.
a friend of mine was talking about a friend she has who is a non-believer. my friend mentioned that it is scary that the outside world would probably not see much difference between her and this non-believer. we as christians should be living in such a way that others are desperate for what it is that seems to give us so much joy and peace and that allows us to love others in a way nothing else could. this is why understanding and living sound doctrine is so important.
just as i was about to begin to look up how to flog myself i continued to read the verses and was uplifted. "for the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works." 2:11-14. that is what is truly beautiful about the bible. first, you find out how truly wretched you are, and then the Lord reminds you how perfect and powerful He is, and that through Him living in sound doctrine is possible but that He still loves us when we fail. that is truly beautiful. i'm glad i took the hint.
here's to waltzing my way to sound doctrine.
peace and love.
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