Thoughts on Titus 2
Great follow-up to the last post. While the world is doing its thing (deceiving and hating), what are Christians called to do? What does it mean to show love?
For the leader, it means to teach sound doctrine. It means to be proactive in teaching, shining a light to deceit and hatred.
But you cannot teach what you do not know. So it also means to be proactive in knowing sound doctrine – devoting yourself in God’s Word, letting the Holy Spirit work in you and through the Church. This is love in action.
Paul then lists some more examples for Older men, Older women, Younger men and Younger women. But the common characteristic for all four? Self-control.
To love is to get yourself in check. We must guard our mind, our heart, our tongue, our hands and feet. Many times we already know what we should and should not do, but the self says, “No, I want it my way.” Other times, there’s not even a struggle, the self just goes and does what it wants. Control your self, even though it’s difficult. This is also love in action.
But Why? Why go through the trouble? Good thing Paul reminds us:
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,”
This is also the How. Grace through the sacrifice of Jesus has brought salvation to me and you. And it is also by grace that we are able to “live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.”