Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Titus 1:4-5 To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you.
GODLY ORDER IN A CHAOTIC WORLD
Who was this Titus? We know very little about the man personally. We know that Titus was not an ethnic Jew like Paul, but a Gentile. We know that Titus traveled with Paul. We know that Titus wasn't a literal son of Paul. He was, however, one who came to believe in Jesus through the Gospel Word spoken by Paul. He was in that sense, a true spiritual son.
Why was Titus on Crete? The Holy Spirit directed Paul to leave Titus on Crete (temporarily) for a precise purpose. There was a need for godly order, and Titus was to set in order, to organize new Christian congregations by appointing elders (what we would call pastors) in those cities on Crete.
The Cretan society was chaotic, with everyone doing what they wanted to do. The Christian gatherings on Crete were not to be chaotic. God is a God of order (1 Corinthians 14:33, 40) and there was to be order in the church as well as godly leadership.
There is still a need for godly order and godly leadership in the church. This is the case because as time goes on, some Christian churches have begun to turn from God's Word. This is the case in our midst because as one generation replaces the next, we are finding fewer and fewer men willing to study to serve as pastors or teachers. God help us that we encourage our young men to step forward and say, "Here I am, send me!" God help us that we encourage our young women to serve as Christian Day School teachers and good examples in the home and in our congregations. Let us encourage our children to serve the Lord.
