December 10 - Titus and Philemon
I did not ever think about it until this morning, but these two letters are linked together by a similar theme. When Paul wrote these letters to individuals, there was a definite mentoring relationship. He was showing them how to carry out their ministry, and he could do that under the inspiration of the Spirit as well as his experience of serving the Lord himself. I believe each letter is a little different partly because each one contains a specific message crafted especially for that individual's needs. However, many of us have the same needs, so we can benefit from God's message to them, too.
In Titus we see that Paul is writing to another one of his sons in the ministry as he wrote to Timothy. Titus is on the island of Crete. (v.5) He is more than the pastor of one church. He is in charge of all of the churches on the island. He was charged with appointing elders in every church. It is from this duty that we see the theme of the letter. Paul is concerned that things will be done in an orderly way in the churches and that all of the Christians will live lives of good works that honor Christ. The elders of the church were appointed to oversee all of this. They were to teach the believers how to live like Christ, and they were to rebuke them, if they were missing God's will. Having been a pastor for about 30 years, I can say "Amen" to this. The two most difficult things for me are keeping the organization of the church operating as it should and trying to ensure that the members live godly, fruitful lives. I have been asking God to help me with this for these 30 years, and I am not sure that I have been able to do it. It definitely takes everyone working together and using their spiritual gifts in the proper way to accomplish this. It can't be just the elders.
I would call your attention to Titus 1:9 and 16. Exhorting and convicting those who contradict is a full time job. Also, there are so many believers who profess to know Jesus, but their works deny Him. I have always said that is the greatest hindrance to evangelism in the church today. There must be a concerted effort of every member to admonish each other like Paul describes in chapter 2. It will only be fruitful when God's grace has changed people in regeneration and the renewal of the Holy Spirit. (3:5)
Then, the letter to Philemon is a case study in this principle. Philemon is a believer. It seems that he leads a church in his house. One of his slaves ran away, and he might have stolen something from him in the process. The slave named Onesimus somehow finds Paul in prison, and Paul leads him to the Lord. Now, Paul is returning Onesimus to his master, but he is exhorting Philemon to treat him as a brother, even to treat him as he would treat Paul. That would be hard, but it is the right thing to do. Would he do it, or would his anger and resentment overcome him? Would he take vengeance or leave it to the Lord? We don't know what happened to Onesimus, but we know that what Philemon did was either a positive or a negative witness to others. He showed them what was in his heart. If he failed to do God's will, then others would think that Christianity was not really able to change a person's heart. If he did the right thing, people would marvel at the power of God. What do people do when they see how you act and hear how you talk? How many people have been drawn to God by your words and actions? How many people have been repulsed by your words and actions? It is serious, eternal business.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Hebrews 1-6.
In Titus we see that Paul is writing to another one of his sons in the ministry as he wrote to Timothy. Titus is on the island of Crete. (v.5) He is more than the pastor of one church. He is in charge of all of the churches on the island. He was charged with appointing elders in every church. It is from this duty that we see the theme of the letter. Paul is concerned that things will be done in an orderly way in the churches and that all of the Christians will live lives of good works that honor Christ. The elders of the church were appointed to oversee all of this. They were to teach the believers how to live like Christ, and they were to rebuke them, if they were missing God's will. Having been a pastor for about 30 years, I can say "Amen" to this. The two most difficult things for me are keeping the organization of the church operating as it should and trying to ensure that the members live godly, fruitful lives. I have been asking God to help me with this for these 30 years, and I am not sure that I have been able to do it. It definitely takes everyone working together and using their spiritual gifts in the proper way to accomplish this. It can't be just the elders.
I would call your attention to Titus 1:9 and 16. Exhorting and convicting those who contradict is a full time job. Also, there are so many believers who profess to know Jesus, but their works deny Him. I have always said that is the greatest hindrance to evangelism in the church today. There must be a concerted effort of every member to admonish each other like Paul describes in chapter 2. It will only be fruitful when God's grace has changed people in regeneration and the renewal of the Holy Spirit. (3:5)
Then, the letter to Philemon is a case study in this principle. Philemon is a believer. It seems that he leads a church in his house. One of his slaves ran away, and he might have stolen something from him in the process. The slave named Onesimus somehow finds Paul in prison, and Paul leads him to the Lord. Now, Paul is returning Onesimus to his master, but he is exhorting Philemon to treat him as a brother, even to treat him as he would treat Paul. That would be hard, but it is the right thing to do. Would he do it, or would his anger and resentment overcome him? Would he take vengeance or leave it to the Lord? We don't know what happened to Onesimus, but we know that what Philemon did was either a positive or a negative witness to others. He showed them what was in his heart. If he failed to do God's will, then others would think that Christianity was not really able to change a person's heart. If he did the right thing, people would marvel at the power of God. What do people do when they see how you act and hear how you talk? How many people have been drawn to God by your words and actions? How many people have been repulsed by your words and actions? It is serious, eternal business.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Hebrews 1-6.