Sept 25 Devotion: Is This Really the Way I'm Supposed to Live?

Titus 3:1-3

1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

         There is a higher authority than the opinions of government rulers and religious leaders. It is the supreme authority of God Almighty. He is the standard of truth and the Sovereign of all creation. He sits upon his throne above all and does not abdicate for any other power, perspective, or persuasion. Since this is true, he has the right to establish standards for man’s conduct. He sets the boundaries and declares what it means to live a life that honors and glorifies his majesty. He knows what the right way is. He is not searching for truth. He is the truth.

         As we look at the verses above from Titus, we see a path laid out for those who would live for God and represent him well.  They are to obey the laws of the land and respect the office of their leaders, and they are only allowed to circumvent the laws of human government when those laws violate the word of God. (This is because God is the higher authority.) Within the framework of the place where we live, we are to be participators in “every good work”. We are to be good citizens and “be ready” to be a blessing to others through our benevolence. We are to guard our tongues that we speak gentle words of encouragement instead of taking the position of mean-spiritedness through brawling. There needs to be a meekness about our attitudes (this is not weakness nor being passive) so we can contend for the faith without being contentious. We need to stand for what is right without bringing a reproach to the cause of Christ. This really is the way God wants us to represent him in this world.  

         We also need to remember that it is by the marvelous grace of God that we are not what we once were. We were “foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.” That was our attitude, and we were not won to the Lord through these traits. We were won by the truth of the gospel and the conviction of the Holy Ghost that showed us the great love that God had for us in sending his Son to pay our sin debt. We were won through love and righteousness, not through browbeating and mean-spiritedness. We were not won through deceptive tactics but through genuine compassion. We need to show this same love to those that oppose themselves. (2 Timothy 2:25) This really is the way we’re suppose to live.

In Christ's Service,

Bro. Adrian Moore

2 Co. 4:5