Paul is now closing his letter to Titus; and in his closing remarks, he remarks that their people (the church), must learn to devote themselves to good works, so that they will not live unfruitful lives.

Once we are saved, through the death and resurrection of Jesus, we must show it. How do we show the fact that we have been saved? Well, by doing good works. The gospel is important, but so is this; if we do not do good works after we have been called by God (saved), our faith is dead. But if we have good works, without faith; those too, are dead: James tells us this:

James 2:17-24: “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe–and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”–and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

James tells us that if we believe that God is one (or in the NIV: “there is one God”) that is good; but even demons believe that. We must back up our faith with works; the demons believe, but they don’t do good works. If we believe, but don’t change, or do good works, we are like the demons (scare thought). Faith is only half of being justified; good works is the other half.

Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have all been changed, given forgiveness, set free from sin and death, giving a new life in Christ, and a living hope (also in Him). But now, we must show our faith. And the way we do that, is by good works. James tells us, that a person is justified by works, and faith; like Abraham. Abraham believed God (God told Abraham to sacrifice his son, but He also promised that Abraham’s descendants would come from Isaac. And Abraham believed Him.) Abraham believed that God would keep His promise (faith), but he was willing to give up his son (works).

Heavenly Father, I thank You, for the hope that You have given us through the death and resurrection of Your Son, our Savior. Jesus, I thank You for giving us forgiveness, and salvation through Your death and resurrection. And Holy Spirit, please help us to believe, and to add to that works. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Paul now reminds us that: “the grace of God has appeared (in Christ), bringing salvation for all people (also in Christ),” He then goes on to tell us what the grace of God does for us: “training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,” (If the grace of God has appeared in Christ, then Christ is our trainer. His example, replaced the Old covenant law, and is now our heavenly Law. So by following His example, we are taught to renounce ungodliness and the worldly passions.) Paul continues, saying: “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,” Paul then tells us about our great God and Savior: “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.”

Jesus gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness; it was through His death and resurrection that we were purified, cleansed, and redeemed. All of our sin was removed from us, and placed on Christ; and we no longer bear it. But do you know what makes this even more amazing? Jesus did all of this for His enemies! Romans 5:10, tells us that:

“For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.”

Also

James 4:4: “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

Jesus has redeemed us, and He also purified us. Paul tells us why in the passage above: “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.” We are the people of God, a chosen nation as 1^st Peter 2:9 says: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

Heavenly Father, I thank You, for sending Your Son to die in our place, even though we were You enemies at the time. Jesus, I thank You, for redeeming us from Satan, and from darkness; and for making us a new people in You. And Holy Spirit, I ask You; to show us the grace of God in Jesus, and I also ask You to show us the gospel in every passage we read, please teach us new things every day. In Jesus name, amen.

Paul now tells Titus the teachings that he should preach to various groups of people: To older men; “be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness”. To older women; “reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine.”. Then, if the older men, and women are these things, or have been changed; the older women are to teach the younger women; “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.”. And the older men are to teach 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.” The older is to teach the younger, because the older have learned more.

Then there are the slaves, or today; employees: “Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.” Employees should be submissive to their Employers in everything, but sin. And not only that; but, “they should be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith (But why should we do this?), so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.”

We as Christians should want to share our faith with others, and if we are employees, then we have an opportunity to show our faith. We have all been changed through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord. If we show that we are submissive, well-pleasing, not argumentative, etc. then we show that we are different, and if those we work with ask why we are so different, then we can tell them. Remember: 2nd Thessalonians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

In the death and resurrection of Jesus, our Lord, and savior; we have all been changed, forgiven, freed from sin, and given many blessings. We need to share this good news, and one of the ways we can do this is by showing those around us, how we are different from the rest of the world. If we are Christ’s, then we can’t be the world’s, and so, we will be different from those that belong to the world. Consider: 1st Thessalonians 5:5:  ”For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.” And don’t forget; if you are an older man, or woman. Be sure to teach the younger generation: the things mentioned in the passage above (top).

Heavenly Father, I thank You, for giving us a shield, and a protector in Your Son. Jesus, I thank You, for protecting us from Your Father’s wrath, and for the forgiveness that we have received in Your death and resurrection. And Holy Spirit, I thank You, for growing us spiritually, and for making us a new creation, in the death and resurrection of Jesus, our Lord, and savior. Please grow us spiritually, and show us the gospel in places we have never seen it before. In Jesus name, amen.

Second Scripture reading: ¹ If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, ⁵ does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, ⁶ does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; ⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. ⁸ Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part; ¹⁰ but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. ¹¹ When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. ¹² For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. ¹³ But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (NASB)

Let’s Pray:

We’ve come now to the second half of Romans chapter 13; the first half tells us of our duty to submit to the authorities, and this section tells us of our duty to our neighbor.

Now one of the characteristics of a believer in Jesus is that we have a real desire to fulfill our duties; to obey the Lord. Before we were saved we didn’t think twice about what God required of us, we didn’t care that we were breaking His laws, and we didn’t want Him telling us what to do. But in salvation a man’s heart is changed, his desires and interests are changed, and He really wants to obey and please the Lord.

We’ve seen that God is holy and righteous and that He hates sin and cannot even look on it, and that when we were living in sin and unbelief we were under His wrath. “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.” John 3:36 (NIV) But then we came to understand that Jesus took our sin on Himself, and in doing so God’s anger was redirected away from us and onto His Son, who bore the punishment of our sin. And God gives us faith to turn away from sin and believe that good news, to trust in it fully and in doing so we are saved. Saved from sin’s penalty and sin’s power. “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 (NASB)

And those who are saved long to do God’s will. We realize that doing God’s will is the evidence of being saved. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father.” Matthew 7:21 (NASB) He also said, “”For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:35 (NASB) And so doing the will of God confirms that we are in the family of God. Jesus said, “”For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” John 6:38 (NASB) And when we become Christians we want to know “what is the will of God, that I might do it?” And we study God’s Word so that we might know God’s will, and then we depend on God’s Spirit to enable us to do God’s will.

Not that we ever obey perfectly; in Romans 7 Paul says, “For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.” Romans 7:15 (NASB) Every Christian struggles against sin, and falls often, but notice that Paul said, “what I would like to do”. Paul would like to obey God, and all believers would like to obey God and so we study God’s Word to find God’s will.

For the believer God’s Word is beautiful and powerful and majestic and life-changing. When we become Christians we are like a newborn baby, we begin to eagerly crave the pure milk of the Word. Like David we say, ¹⁵ I will meditate on Your precepts And regard Your ways. ¹⁶ I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word. Psalm 119:15-16 (NASB). “My soul is crushed with longing After Your ordinances at all times.” Psalm 119:20 (NASB) and “The law of Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of gold and silver pieces.” Psalm 119:72 (NASB) This was a man who craved God’s Word and desired to obey it.

And so Christians come to God’s Word and say “In light of what He has done for us, how can we live to obey and please Him. How can we fulfill God’s requirements?”

And we come to our passage of study today and we see one word repeated over and over, and that one word tells us exactly how to fulfill the requirements. Let’s see that Word as we read the passage: ⁸ Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. ⁹ For this, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” ¹⁰ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:8-10 (NASB)

Love fulfills the Law, so that the word “love” is the short spelling of the word “righteousness.” So let’s just notice the two main points of this passage:

1. Owe nothing to anyone—verse 8
2. Owe love to everyone—verses 8-10.

So let’s look at these two points together. First, we’re told to “owe nothing to anyone” so that if we love people we will make sure we pay them what we owe them or die trying. This is a characteristic of righteous people. Psalm 37:21 says, “The wicked borrows and does not pay back, But the righteous is gracious and gives” even as Jesus was gracious and gave His life for us. “Pay him his wages each day before sunset, because he is poor and is counting on it. Otherwise he may cry to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin.” Deuteronomy 24:15 (NIV)  “Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness And his upper rooms without justice, Who uses his neighbor’s services without pay And does not give him his wages, Jeremiah 22:13 (NASB) We are to owe nothing to anyone.

Think of what the understanding of this passage would teach us:

1. To work hard. To not be lazy. Adam had to cultivate the garden “by the sweat of his brow”, working 6 days out of 7. In this day and age millions of people are out of work, not due to them being lazy but due to the economy. And they are trying to find work so that they can pay their debts. But we’re taught to work hard so we can owe no man anything.
2. To not go into debt. And to be radical in paying it off. Jesus gave His life to pay off your debt of sin, so that anyone who believes is debt free. You owe nothing to God for your sins, we should owe nothing to man either. Therefore we don’t go in to debt and we pay off whatever debt we have.
3. To be frugal and economical. We should live humbly, and do away with things we don’t need. We don’t ever want to be in a position of owing somebody something that we can’t pay.
4. To help our children. We should raise up our children teaching them the value of hard work, and saving money and avoiding debt.

First principle here today: we are to owe no man anything.

Second principle: we owe love to everyone. Love is an ongoing debt we must pay to all people, and the wonderful thing is the more we pay it the richer we get. So we have an ongoing debt to love one another. I invite you to turn with me to 1 John 4, and let’s notice that passage together:

⁷ Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. ⁸ The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. ⁹ By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. ¹⁰ In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. ¹¹ Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:7-11 (NASB)

The Instruction: “let us love one another”—verse 7
The Definition: “God is love”—verse 8
The Manifestation: “God sent His only begotten Son…to be the atoning sacrifice…that we might live through Him”—verses 9 and 10
The Origination: “not that we loved God, but that He loved us”—verse 10 “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
The Motivation: “if God so loved us…”—verse 11
The Instruction: “we also ought to love one another”—verse 11

Short summary: God is love. He showed it by giving His Son to die that we might live. So let’s love one another. After all, that is how the world knows that we are Christians. ³⁴ “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ³⁵ “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35 (NASB)

Well then what does it mean to love someone? Well first it means to do no harm. vs. 10: “Love does no harm to its neighbor.” It says about the Noble wife in Proverbs 31: ¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. ¹² She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. Proverbs 31:11-12 (NIV)

And under this heading of “Love does no harm” Paul reminds us of the commands of God, given in Exodus chapter 20. And he says in verse 9 The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Romans 13:9 (NIV)

If we loved our neighbor as ourself, and we understood that love does no harm, we would not commit adultery, for adultery harms both people, their spouses, their families, their churches and everybody who knows them.

We’re not to commit adultery in our actions, but neither are we to commit adultery in our thoughts: Jesus said in Matthew 5:²⁷ “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’; ²⁸ but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:27-28 (NASB) Under the new covenant we are not to commit adultery with our actions or even with a look. This prohibits pornography and all forms of impurity. Peter describes people who have ¹⁴eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin. 2 Peter 2:13-15 (NASB) Love does no harm to its neighbor in action or in thought.

If we are to do no harm to our neighbor we certainly wouldn’t commit murder. Now most people agree that we should not murder, but how about committing anger? Again Jesus says ²¹ “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ ²² “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court. Matthew 5:21-22 (NASB) So that unrighteous anger is the seed of murder.

Some people say “well I’d never murder somebody” and then they go on to say “but did you hear what John did? He…” and they slander someone, in essence murdering their reputation. Some of us have been horribly humbled by this, and we’ve had to learn not to slander the hard way. We’ve learned by experience the truth of Psalm 101:5: “Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy; No one who has a haughty look and an arrogant heart will I endure.” Psalm 101:5 (NASB) No Christian should ever talk behind someone’s back in any way.

Think of this for a moment: Jesus’ hands were tied to a post, and the Roman soldiers beat His back mercilessly. And if you look in Roman history the reason they beat the back is because they didn’t have to see His face. It’s easier to hurt someone when you’re behind their back. Remember that next time you hear slander, or are tempted to slander. Remember that “He who spreads slander is a fool.” Proverbs 10:18

And then Romans 13:9 says “Do not steal” because that does harm to the one we take from. And “Do not covet” because that the seed of stealing. In other words, “Love does no harm to anybody.”

And so we end with verse 10: “Love is the fulfillment of the Law” as if to say “all that the law requires is that we love others.” But the reality is that no human being is able to keep the Law perfectly. We fail and fall short. So for our final thought today let’s compare two verses of Scripture. Compare Romans 13:10 “Love is the fulfillment of the Law” with John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down His life for His friends” and here’s what we come up with. Jesus fulfilled the Law for all believers when He died on the cross. If you repent, that is turn away from your sin, and put your faith in what Jesus did, then God looks at you as having lived perfectly, as having kept the Law in the Person of Christ.

So for just a moment consider the cross. Look at Jesus as they place the cross on His shoulders, and He struggles up to the top of Mt. Calvary. There He is laid out on the cross and His hands and feet are pierced, and then He is raised up on that cross. Look at Him hanging there. Know what that is? That is perfect love fulfilling the Law for all of God’s elect. The Law is now competed, fulfilled and finished.

²⁸ Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” ²⁹ A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. ³⁰ When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:28-30 (NIV)

Love is the fulfillment of the Law and greater love has no man than this, that He lay down His life for His friends. 

We have talked about Overseers before; let’s see what else we can get from this passage.

Paul is now finished with the introduction, and now moves on to his instruction to Titus. He tells Titus, that the reason he was sent to Crete was to: “This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you” Paul then reminds Titus of the things an Overseer should be:

“If anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers (if his own children aren’t believers, what good will he be teaching others to follow God?) And not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination (he if is in a sin trap, such as drunkenness, then he might lead those in the church down that road too.).”

And then, what he should do: “For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant (but humble) or quick-tempered (but calm) or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined (if he follows Christ, and always has the gospel before him, he will be: hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. Or he will be becomes those things). He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught (he must hold to the gospel, as it is taught, meaning: Jesus died on a cross to forgive all mankind, and save them from their sins. And three days after His death, we rose again, proclaiming life.), so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. (The gospel is the key to the bible, if he reads the bible in light of the gospel, he will find new things in God’s word, things that he has not seen. He then can use these discoveries, to defend his faith.)”

Overseers are to lead, the rest should follow. Like Paul said in: 1^st Corinthians 11:1: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” We should follow our elders, or overseers, as they follow Christ. And if you are an overseer, be sure that you are following Christ’s example, and preaching the gospel. Because, others are following your example, and if you stray, then they will too.

Remember, if you hold to the gospel of Jesus’ death and resurrection, it will be impossible for Satan to move you. It is when we look away, that we fall. Keep your eyes on Christ.

Heavenly Father, I thank You, for giving us Your word, and the Holy Spirit to guild us and teach us in Your ways. And Jesus, I thank You, for being our firm ground, and for always rescuing us when we call out to You. And Holy Spirit, when we slip, and fall into sin, please remind us of the forgiveness that we have received in Jesus’ death and resurrection, and then, please guild us back to the path. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Titus 1:1-3: “Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;”

Paul opens his letter to Titus normally: My name is Paul, I serve Jesus Christ, and my message is the gospel of Jesus’ death and resurrection. But let’s take a closer look at Paul’s opening: “for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life,” Faith, knowledge of the truth, which accords (or agrees) with godliness, in hope of eternal life. Sounds like the gospel to me. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have received both, godliness and hope of eternal life. Remember:

Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have received eternal life.)

Let’s continue: “which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;” Paul gives us a promise, that we can cling too: God never lies, so since He promised us eternal life, through the death and resurrection of His Son, before the world was even made. We will receive it; and we did, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord, and Savior. Who, “at the proper time manifest in His word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;” Paul has been given the gospel to preach, and so, it comes out in each of his letters, and in many places in them.

The gospel is important, if not for Jesus’ death; there would be no true sacrifice, and so, no forgiveness, and no freedom. We would still be under the law, and under God’s wrath. And if not for Jesus’ resurrection; that would tell us that God did not accept Jesus’ sacrifice, and so God’s wrath would still be on us, our sin would still be with us, and we would be dead in our sin. And there are many more things that I have not mentioned. The gospel is very important, and we should thank God for it, every day. So let’s do that now:

Heavenly Father, I thank You for the gospel, and all the things that come with it. I thank You for giving us eternal life, in the death and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus. Jesus, I thank You for giving Your life, in order to give us life, and I thank You for rising again, to give us hope. Holy Spirit, I ask You, to show us the gospel in every passage we read, and please never let us lose the wonder of the cross. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Paul tells Timothy (and us), in his personal remarks: “At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me.”, Paul was deserted by everyone, but the Lord. People left Paul, but Jesus stayed, and that was all that he needed: “But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.”

When people leave us, Christ remains; He gives us strength to continue and to preach the gospel boldly, as we should: “the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.” If Jesus is with us, we can do all things. But, did you know that Jesus was also deserted, when He most needed support? It was prophesied in:

Zechariah 13:7” “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me,” declares the LORD of hosts. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones.”

Jesus quotes it in: Matthew 26: 31: “Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written; ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ And it is recorded happening in: Matthew 26: 56: “But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.”

Jesus was deserted by His closes friends, when He was lead away to speak to the counsel of Priests. Jesus was completely deserted; and at the cross, John was the only disciple there. And let’s not forget, that God the father, looked away from His Son while He hung on the cross, with all the sin of the world on Him. But after His death and resurrection, all of the disciples were called back. And as for us: if we put our trust in Him, Jesus will always there. He will never leave us, nor forsake us. Because, He died for us; we were bought with His own blood, shed for us on the cross. So, like Paul, we can stand when the storms comes. And Jesus will keep us strong, and help us to preach the gospel boldly, as we should. Thank You Lord!

Heavenly Father, I thank You, for giving us Your Son, someone who will never leave us, nor forsake us. And Jesus, I thank You for standing with us when the storms of this life come, and for helping us to still preach the gospel boldly. Holy Spirit, I ask You, to remind us of the gospel, every day. Never let us lose the wonder of the cross, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Paul is reminding Timothy of some of his trials and persecution, and the fact that the Lord has rescued him in all of them. Paul also gives Timothy and all who are Christians a warning: “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,”

Paul has had a lot of things happen to him in his life: 2^nd Corinthians 11:23-28: “Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one–I am talking like a madman–with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.” And yet, the Lord, has rescued him, and protected him in all of those trials.

No matter what our circumstances are, God is still in control. And don’t forget that: We have been saved, and redeemed from darkness through the death and resurrection of Jesus: Psalms 106:10: “So he saved them from the hand of the foe and redeemed them from the power of the enemy.”  And the fact that Jesus will never leave us, nor forsake us: Hebrews 13:5: “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

When we are persecuted, we can run to Jesus and find rest. Why can we do this? Because, Jesus knows what it is like to be tempted and persecuted (He was tempted by the tempter, and died the worst death a man could die, in those days.). Remember, we have been bought at a price, and that price was the blood of Jesus. We have been forgiven from all of our sin, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord. And we have a new and living hope in Jesus’ resurrection. So when you are being persecuted, remember the gospel, and hold to it.

Heavenly Father, I thank You, for giving us a firm ground in Your Son’s Death and resurrection, so that we can stand our ground when we are persecuted. And Jesus, I thank You, for laying down You life, to give us new life. And then, for taking it up again, and so giving us a new and living hope in You. And Holy Spirit, I ask You, please remind us of the gospel every day, especially, during persecution. In Jesus’ name, amen.

And,

2^nd Timothy 2:23, 24: “Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,

Paul is warning Timothy against quarreling; because, it ruins the hearers, it is foolish, ignorant, and the Lord’s servant must not do it. Even though Paul is writing to Timothy, we too should avoid quarreling. Let’s take a monument to look at the definition of quarreling: Quarreling is described as: “Have an angry argument or disagreement.” But why is quarreling bad? Well, children of God should be united, and if we quarrel we show that we are not. Also, we are called to build each other up. But when we quarrel, we are tearing down.

Remember, believers need to be fixed on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and when we aren’t, we fall. That is another reason why Christians shouldn’t quarrel: we need to be fixed on the cross, not quarreling other something. If we get our eyes off Christ, we will fall, and it will hurt. Let’s take a look at: Galatians 3:1: “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.”

The Galatians took their eyes from the gospel, and started looking at other things. And as a result, they forgot the gospel, and became full of the Old covenant. This, or something like it, will happen to us, if we take our eyes from Jesus on the cross. “Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies.” And fix your eyes on Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Heavenly Father, I thank You for giving us firm ground (spiritually) in the death and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ. And Jesus, I thank You for the forgiveness of sins, that we have received through Your bloodshed for us on the cross. And Holy Spirit, I ask, that You would help us to keep our eyes on Jesus, and keep us from quarreling. In Jesus’ name, amen.