“As for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 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… Be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, [and] so adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation.., 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.” Titus 2:1-14
His pastoral letter to Titus was realistic and practical. Establishing church leadership was vital to a new body of believers. Amidst legalistic attitudes and immature behavior, Paul knew the inherent selfishness and worldly ambition of the human heart. Left to themselves, a body would not function spiritually or healthfully. Certain qualities needed to be sought, taught, and honed, rooted and aligned in Christ’s divine character.
Sound in love. Train to love. If love were innately pure and selfless, not dependent on or defined by emotion, no such reminders would be necessary. Wishing or determination cannot make good what is inherently putrid or awry. Through regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit, the Lord plants in us a new nature. He grants increasing understanding of Christ’s immense love, sheds that love abroad in our hearts, and fuels compulsion and energy to express it for Him and toward others. (Romans 5:5; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 3:17-19; Titus 3:3-9)
Where does our concept of love need correcting? How well do our parameters and impulses measure against God’s definition? What strongly-held rights or flesh preferences limit our ability to love freely according to Christ’s character, practicing genuine forgiveness, reverence, and kindness? Where do we need specific Spirit-renewal? (John 15:13; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7; Ephesians 4:32)
“Spirit of God, who dwells within my heart,
wean it from sin, through all its pulses move.
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as you are,
and make me love you as I ought to love.
Did you not bid us love you, God and King,
love you with all our heart and strength and mind?
I see the cross there teach my heart to cling.
O let me seek you and O let me find!
Teach me to love you as your angels love,
one holy passion filling all my frame:
the fullness of the heaven-descended Dove;
my heart an altar, and your love the flame.” ~George Croly (1854)
Amen.
As the rain and snow 