“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people” (Titus 3:1-2).

Behaving as the Lord would have you do is not easy.  We are to be submissive to authorities and obedient.  The world promotes rebellion and conflict.  The way of the Lord leads to life and the way of the wicked one leads to death.  Each day has its own troubles, but if you will put these things in your heart and mind, following the Lord, it will go well for you into eternity.

Lord, calm my spirit when it needs to be calmed.  Guide me, Lord, to see through the garbage of this age that I may learn to humbly serve You always.  Lead me now and ever so that I may learn to do these things without great difficulty.  Lord, keep me from the quarrels of this age and help me be courteous to all.  You have given the words of eternal life and there is no other place to go than the shelter of Your ever-lasting arms.

Come, Holy Spirit, and in the grace purchased for us all by Christ, lead so that the way of the cross would guide my way.  Help me not focus upon myself, but upon the battle which is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers.  Grant wisdom that I would follow as You lead the way.  Through all things, help me hold fast to the truth You have revealed in Your grace, which is mine.  Amen.

“Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you” (Titus 2:15).

Why is there always a battle to get things done? Why are there those who will disregard what is right?  It is the way of this rebellious world.  Stand firm and hold fast to the truth you have been given.  When you speak the Gospel, you need never be timid, but speak with authority, for it is the word of God.

Lord, I am constantly fighting through this world which contradicts and resists You.  Grant me the faith to hold fast to Your word and what You would have me to do.  Guide me, Lord, so that I would now and always live out Your Gospel of love.  Help me in every time of need to look to You, for You alone can help me navigate through those situations when others are disregarding what is right and true.

Lord Jesus, You know what it is to be disregarded.  You were constantly harassed.  Guide me, Lord, through this day in order that I would hold fast to what You have taught me as well as proclaim with my life and actions the truth of Your Gospel.  Lead me, Lord, as You know I need to be.  Help me to see through the fog of this age.  Help me be bold in speech and firm in action for Your sake.  Amen.

“[W]aiting 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 2:13-14).

Two things should be noticed.  We wait for the Lord and He is purifying us for Himself.  What then shall we do?  Wait upon the Lord and be about the business of being purified.   This sounds easy but think of how we often behave otherwise.  We are impatient, immature, and impure.  Come then and go in the way of the Lord as He leads you into the eternal life which He alone can give and which He has promised to you.

Lord, waiting is perhaps one of the most difficult things to do.  Lead me to see that each day has its purpose and that day by day You are growing in me Your likeness.  Continue to guide me and make me aware of Your continual presence.  Help me understand these things as I learn and grow.  Keep my eyes upon You so that I would not be tempted by the things of this world.

Lord Jesus, You have come for the very reason of saving us from this wicked and perverse world. Guide me, Lord, that I would learn to live the eternal life which You are giving me through the grace You give from the cross.  Through all that may come this day, help me to see that in You there is hope and an eternal future.  You, Lord, are my hope, rock, and salvation.  Amen.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age” (Titus 3:11-12)

The Lord is giving us a new life.  Those who are in Him give up the way of the world.  Look carefully and you will see that Paul says the same thing over and over again.  The gifts of the Spirit are the life characteristics that become a part of the one who is in the Lord.  Come then and live into the life which is yours in Christ.  Know that He has brought salvation to you this day.

Lord, I am aware of the struggle between what is right and the habits of the world.  Continue to grant me the fruits of the Spirit so that I would each day grow in the character You are implanting in me.  Help me always to see that in You alone is all hope.  The ways of the world are fleeting and temporary.  Your way is forever.  Guide me, dear Lord, in Your way always.

Lord Jesus, in You is all hope.  You have demonstrated for us how to live.  Help me learn as I hear Your story in the Gospels, pray and meditate.  Lead me according to what You know I need and grant that by Your grace I would gratefully receive what You are giving me.  Now and always, may I look to You, Lord, for guidance and direction knowing that You are implanting Your life in me.  Amen.

“Bondservants 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” (Titus 2:9-10).

No matter the circumstance, be faithful to whom you serve.  Do not cheat your employer, nor take what is not yours.  Be honest, diligent, and faithful.  Know that all of these things are not a test, but they do indicate the true character of your heart.  Live so that when others see you, they see the Gospel of the Lord working through you as a testimony of His work in you.

Lord, what is ideal and what I really do are far apart.  You know where I am weak and where I do not do these things.  Help me, O Lord, to live consistently in the truth You have revealed.  Guide me according to Your goodness to live so that these are the things that are exhibited in what I do.  Help me to always reflect the Gospel in thought, word, and deed.

Lord Jesus, through Your power alone can I begin to do these things.  Guide me this day to learn a little more how to be like You.  Lead me to be consistent so what I say is what I do.  Help me to put on the Gospel armor, live in it, and wrap my heart around Your Word of truth.  Lead me to be one who lives like You in this age of rebellion.  Help me through each difficulty to look to You, my Savior, for all guidance.  Amen.

“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” (Titus 2:7-8).

The way to behave has not changed.  The wicked one will twist doctrine whenever and wherever he can.  Give no ground to those who would harm the cause of Christ.  Be steadfast and immovable, doing what is right and putting the best possible construction on every situation.  Be a person of integrity, that is, consistent and steadfast and know what you believe so that you may be sound in doctrine.

Lord, this world is often quite confusing.  Although it seems that things change daily; actually, they never change. (There is nothing new under the sun.) Guide me through the maze of  evil in this world that I may be guided by You alone into the truth You have revealed in the salvation which is mine through Christ.  Guide me to live so that those who would do harm have nothing evil to truthfully say about me.

Lord Jesus, You lived Your life here just this way.  You were consistent and although there were those who hated You, they really could say nothing evil of You unless they lied.  Teach me how to live this way, having integrity and being consistent.  Show me how to model through my works the life You are calling me to live.  Let what I do be a witness of the faith You have given me.  Amen. 

“Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled” (Titus 2:6).

How simple an instruction that flies in the face of what our contemporary culture promotes.  Be all that you can be.  Sow your wild oats.  Explore and discover.  These are what are promoted in the face of the simple admonition to learn self-control.  Is this not one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit?  Yes!  Learn self-control and do not give in to the incessant contrary cultural drivel of this world.

Lord, it is hard to go against the flow, yet in moving in the right direction there is great joy.  Inspire me to be willing to do the work necessary so that I may be guided by Your principles and not by the nonsense which this world continuously promotes.  Help me to learn how to learn these things and then help me to do them.  Guide me in the way of the good life You intend for me, Lord.

Dear Lord Jesus, at all times You were fully in Your right mind.  You never lost control but showed anger when it was called for.  You walked humbly and calmly through each day fulfilling the Father’s will.  Guide me Lord so that I may learn from You how to walk humbly with You as You teach me.  Teach me self-control and the other good gifts You give in order that I may lead a temperate and prudent life in preparation for the promised eternal life.  Amen.

“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” (Titus 3b-5).

The instructions here are very telling.  In our modern world, we think we are thinking things differently, when we are simply repeating what did not work two thousand years ago.  Wives, love your husbands and children.  Husbands, love your family.  Do what is right and be content with the position you have in this world.  The world wants you to be discontented.  The Lord desires that you would be content.

Lord, help me to understand that in all things I am who I am.  Nothing will change this.  The world tells me to be competitive.  You tell me to be whom You made me to be.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of everlasting life so that I would be guided by You and the precepts You give.  Teach me to be content with who I am.  Teach me to anticipate whom You are making me to be.

Lord Jesus, You were not pretentious as people in this world are.  You did not try to impress people.  You just walked life as You are.  Teach me to do the same Lord.  Guide me so that I may be confident, but humble, living with who I am as I live the life You have given me.  Guide me, Lord, in the true way of life and teach me to be thankful for the grace, mercy, and example You have given me.  Amen.  

“Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine” (Titus 2:3a).

Be dutiful and keep what you know to yourself.  This may sound easy, but look at how many gossip and slander.  Do not be deceived, this behavior is not acceptable in the sight of the Lord.  Walk humbly with Your God and live in the character of what is right and fitting.  You do not need to guess what these things are, for here you have them before you.  Put them into practice.

Lord, our world wants to know what others think.  When we do not know, there are the evil ones who will make it up.  Take away the desire to know information that is not proper for me to know.  Lead me to be content with what You do give me.  Guide me in Your goodness to see that in You alone is all hope.  Help me to develop the character befitting one who is a follower of Christ.

Lord Jesus, You have come into the world so that I may have life and have it abundantly.  You have also come to fulfill the will of the Father.  Guide me Lord in the way of everlasting life in order that where these things are present in me, I may be conformed to Your image.  Help me see clearly where I need what You alone can give.  Guide me Jesus in the way of life which I have been given through grace.  Amen. 

“Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness” (Titus 2:2).

This list is not impossible, nor unfair.  It might read like a posting for a job.  We live in a world that does not respect temperance or prudence, yet these are the qualities that are needed to keep things running.  Be a person who is temperate and displays common sense.  Be of sound mind and live out the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The Lord has called you to be in your right mind and live His way.

Lord, I know these things are inside of me.  Yes, I too have struggles, but I do not disagree with this list of behaviors, but in fact, seek others who have them when I want someone to do something responsibly.  Help me in this journey of life to be one who is like this.  Guide me into the faith You have given me and grow in me the godly character I shall have for all eternity.

Lord Jesus, You have modeled the godly behavior expected of us all as Your followers.  Where I am deficient, lead me to become what You are making of me.  Guide me, O Lord, in order that I may always know the hope I have because of Your grace and mercy.  Clear my mind and heart to walk this day in the confidence of the hope You give as I become a child of the Heavenly Father.  Amen.