“But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1).

There is good doctrine and doctrine which is not good.  Do not be led astray by wickedness, even in the guise of good religion.  Know that in the Lord there is that which is useful, but that the wicked one will send those along who will speak what itching ears want to hear.  Pay attention to what you say and to what you take in.  Let the Lord lead so that You may have good and sound doctrine leading you.

Lord, grant that I would have discerning ears that understand the difference between what is good and what is bad.  Lead me, Lord, so that I understand and take in what is good spiritual food and reject the junk garbage of this age.  Lead me into spiritual health so that I may know the good and do it.  When I am speaking of You, help me to be true to the Gospel and always speak the truth.

Holy Spirit, You know the condition in which I find myself.  You know what is right and what is perverse.  Guide me, Lord, so that I would discern the difference and reject what is not good and take in what is right.  Lead me, Lord, so that I may grow in this faith You have given me.  Guide me according to the Father’s will to live into the life that emulates Christ and grows in godliness.  Amen.

“To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.  They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work” (Titus 1:15-16).

Paul is not promoting some kind of super criterion for salvation, but speaking of the heart which is wicked and deceitful until the Holy Spirit grabs hold and starts the work of sanctification.  Yes, you can know them by their fruits (but the real and final judgement belongs to God).  Pay attention to what you see and not necessarily what people say.  Actions speak louder than words.

Lord, grant that I would have my eyes open to see what You would have me see.  You know the hearts of others and I do not.  You know where some mislead.  Guide me Lord so that I would humbly see what You give me to see and go where You send me.  Help me understand the seriousness of this life of faith You have given me in order that I may be genuine and faithful in this gift of grace.

Lord Jesus, You have come in order that I might have a new life.  Help me to not live for myself, but to come to You who is the only One who can and will save me.  Help me to be what I proclaim and to live according to Your goodness and mercy.  Guide me this day so that what people see is who I truly am and let that be one who is following You with all that I am.  Amen.

“This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth” (Titus 1:13-14).

The Lord is not granting us permission to be cruel or unloving; but gives us the command to protect the body of Christ from those who would harm it.  Sometimes this requires a sharp rebuke.  Be willing to stand firm in the Lord and say what needs to be said.  Far too often people grumble, but say nothing.  We are to stand firm in the truth and not abide with those who are seeking other things.

Lord, I cannot do this on my own.  I have my opinions and my own sinfulness gets in the way.  Where there is a situation that You give me the ability to do something about, be the One who leads me so that I do what You would have me do, even if that means speaking a sharp rebuke.  Help me to not be a part of the wandering that many seem to be doing these days but hold fast to the faith You have given once for all.

Lead me, Lord Jesus.  You know Your church better than I ever will.  You have given us mercy and grace so that we can come into the faith You give.  Help me to be bold in that faith and intolerant of the lies of the wicked one.  For the sake of others, learning to love my neighbor, help me to be truthful even when it is painful.  Teach me devotion to You and the Gospel which is my right to proclaim through word and deed.  Amen.

“One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons” (Titus 1:12).

Take care, not all people are whatever we may name them, but there are many who are.  In our current culture, we say don’t call anyone anything.  But I say, speak truth.  If one is a liar, then they are a liar.  If they are lazy and evil, then they are lazy and evil.  Speaking the truth is speaking the truth even if it means speaking what others do not want to hear.  Always say what you mean, but don’t say it mean.

There is always a time and place and a way to say things that are not comfortable to say.  Guide me, Lord, so that I would speak what is right and true.  Guide me according to Your goodness in order that I would not hold back, nor seek the approval of what culture deems the right way to speak, but that I would speak what is right in Your eyes.  Lead me Lord into truth, speaking truth with love, no matter the cost.

Lord Jesus, You have always been gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.  Lead me to be like You.  You also confronted those who sought to trap You and spoke truth to them.  Help me to speak truth.  Lord, You are my Sovereign and You know where I stumble.  Lead me, O Lord, to walk humbly with You and learn from You so that I may be a person of diligence and truth. Amen.

“They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach” (Titus 1:11).

It is sad that there are those who use religion for themselves.  Outsiders then wonder what is what.  Yes, they ought to be silenced, but they will not be silent.  So, be one with good theology and know what you believe.  Know the difference between what is good and what is bad.  Do not do what you do for gain, but because it is right and true.  Know that in the Lord alone is truth.  Speak only what you know to be true.

Lord, give me eyes to see and ears to hear.  Lead me, Lord, that I would be guided by You and the truth You have revealed through Your Word.  Help me to understand that in You is all truth and that You have given me the ability to know these things.  Grant that I would be diligent in pursuing what is right and bold in standing up to those who promote themselves rather than the truth.

Come, Holy Spirit, and enlighten me in  the truth of Your Word.  Guide me in the goodness You have made possible through grace to understand that You alone are truth.  Keep me from ever exploiting this truth for gain and guide me to live according to Your Word so that I would live as a child of the Heavenly Father, doing what is right and good and sharing with all whom I meet the truth.  Amen.

“For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party” (Titus 1:10).

Listen to just about anybody these days and you hear a parroting of whatever the latest trend is.  “Get with the program and walk alongside everyone else,” they say.  Empty talkers seek to convince you to do what you do not want to do and spend money you do not have on things that do not matter.  Do not be deceived.  The Lord gives you his grace and mercy and calls for you to follow Him alone.

Lord, there are so many in the world today who lead folk all over the place.  Guide me, Lord, so that I would humbly walk with you and not be led astray by what does not matter.  Guide me, O Lord, in order that I would hold fast to You first and then understand all the other things around me through Your eyes.  Let me see through the traps that have been laid by those who are insubordinate and empty talkers, seeking whom they may lead away from You.

Lord Jesus, You have come to set free those who look to You.  There are those in this world who want people to look to them instead.  There are those who try to say there is a new way to do the impossible: pleasing you through perfect obedience.  Lead me into the arms of Your mercy and grace so that I would walk humbly with You, my Savior.  You alone are the only way of everlasting life.  Lead me into You alone!  Amen.

“He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it” (Titus 1:9).

Hold firm!  How many are tempted to be nothing to nobody all the time?  Hold firm to what you have been given.  The world rides on the tossing waves of whatever the trend may be.  Give it a year, it will change.  The Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Hold firm to what you have been taught so that you may be able to instruct and rebuke those who contradict it.  Be trustworthy.

Lord, You know where I have been tossed about.  You know where I am not the person I should be.  You know where I have compromised.  I know these things.  Help me to repent and stand firm in the faith You have given me so that I may be guided by Your goodness and mercy.  Lead me, Lord, in the way of everlasting life.  Bring me to the place where I am trustworthy and able to resist the ever-changing whims of this world.

Lord Jesus, You held fast so that I would have to opportunity to live the gift of faith You have given me.  Guide me, O Lord, in order that I may now and always abide in the truth of life You make possible through grace.  In You, Lord, is life and apart from You is nothing.  Lead me to live under the sound doctrine and way of life found in You.  Guide me today and every day to live humbly with You as my Savior.  Amen.

“For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined” (Titus 1:7-8).

Take a look at this list; it is not about doing this or that, but about the character of one who is a child of God.  Too many think Christianity is a get-out-of-hell religion.  It is about becoming a child of the Heavenly Father.  You have been called to see your character changed such that the latter part of this list does describe you.  Seek to be one who is above reproach in the eyes of “our Father.”

Lord, You know where I need to go to work.  You know my weaknesses.  Let us begin with those places where I know them too.  Help me to be on the path You know I need to be on.  Guide me into the life that is mine in You.  Help me to overcome the obstacles of this age in order to humbly walk in Your presence into eternity.  In You Lord is all hope and an eternal future.  Please lead me there.

Lord Jesus, You have paved the way with grace so that I may live in the hope of becoming a child of the Father.  I know there is much that needs to be done.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way You know I need to go.  Guide me today into those things which will change my character to be in conformity with all that is needed.  Remove from me the sin which is in me and replace it with godliness.  Amen.

“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 – if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination” (Titus 1:5-6).

Some have said they wanted the first century church — where getting good people to be the elders was difficult.  Too many were open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.  It doesn’t seem all that different today, only many do not seem to care about people’s behavior.  Dear Christian, you are to seek to put things in order that the Lord may find order around and in you.

Lord, You know there are those around me who are intentionally breaking Your law and then saying that all is well.   Help me, dear Lord, not to focus upon them, but to seek to put good order in and around me.  All things have always been in Your hands and in You will those things which are redeemed be redeemed.  Let me do my part so that I would not waste the time You give me here in debauchery.

Lord Jesus, You have dealt with every kind of wickedness from those who rebel against the truth.  I too have taken part in the rebellion.  Lead me, Lord, to go away from the chaos of this world and into the order You have created from the beginning.  Guide me into all truth and help me to live the truth into which You have led me.  In You I have hope.  Lead me in faith and hope so that I may be at peace.  Amen.

“To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior” (Titus 1:4).

We hold these things together in Christ.  We have not made these things up; but have been called into the one faith through one baptism into the One Lord who is in all and through all.  Do not be led astray by the constant noise of this world, but hear the Holy Spirit call you into the truth for all ages.  Be a true child of God, holding faith in common with the communion of saints and hope in Christ Jesus.

This world is filled with so many options.  That is how it seems, but really there are only two options for the obedience of faith.  Either trust in the Lord, or else continue in the rebellion and hope in anything else.  From the dust we have been formed and we are destined to return to dust.  Our hope is in the Lord who promised that because He lives, we too shall live.  Come then into the peace which only He can give.

Lord Jesus, You came so that we might have the abundant life which, in You, never ends.  Though we die, yet we shall live.  These are the promises You give through Your death on the cross and the following resurrection from the tomb.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, in this eternal hope which You give that I might live my life in the way You have established.  Let me not follow the many paths that lead away from the Father, but stay on the true path through You to Him.  Amen.