Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

March 4
Monday


THEY'RE
WATCHING

READ:
Titus 3:1-8
______________________________________________________

Speak evil of no one,
...be peaceable,
gentle, showing all
humility to all men.
__Titus 3:2
_______________________________________________________

It's been several decades since a high school event devastated me. Playing sports was hugely important to me. I zeroed in on basketball and spent hundreds of hours practicing my game. So when I didn't make the varsity team in my last year after being on the team since junior high, I was crushed.

Disappointed and confused, I carried on. I became a stats guy for the team, going to games and keeping track of my friends' rebounds and shots as they got within one game of the state championship without me. To be honest, I never thought of how they were viewing my response. I just muddled through. That's why I was surprised recently to hear that several of my classmates told my brother that they saw in my response a lesson in Christianity__a picture of Christ. My point is this: Whether we know it or not, people are watching us.

In Titus 3:1-8, Paul explains the life God enables us to live__a life of respect, obedience, and kindness that results from being reborn through Jesus and renewed by the Holy Spirit who has been poured out on us.

As we live a Spirit-guided life, God will show the reality of His presence to others through us. __Dave Branon

~~~~~~~~~~~Dear Father, You know how inadequate I am~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~Please equip me through the Spirit to show love~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~and respect in my life so that others will see~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~through me and see You.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
____________________________________________________________

A Christian is a living sermon whether or not
he preaches a word.

*********************Today's Bible Reading __ Titus 3:1-8**********************

1 Remind them to be
subject to rulers and
authorities, to obey, to be
ready for every good work,

2 to speak evil of no one, to
be peaceable, gentle,
showing all humility to all
men. 3 For we ourselves
were also once foolish,
disobedient, deceived,
serving various lusts and
pleasures, living in malice
and envy, hateful and
hating one another. 4 But
when the kindness and the
love of God our Savior
toward man appeared, 5 not
by works of righteousness
which we have done, but
according to His mercy He
saved us, through the
washing of regeneration
and renewing of the Holy
Spirit, 6 whom He poured
out on us abundantly
through Jesus Christ our
Savior, 7 that having been
justified by His grace we
should become heirs
according to the hope of
eternal life. 8 This is a
faithful saying, and these
things I want you to affirm
constantly, that those who
have believed in God
should be careful to
maintain good works.
These things are good
and profitable to men.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Titus, the recipient of this letter, was a young pastor being mentored
by Paul. As the apostle wrote to this young servant of Christ, he
sought to help him work his way through the challenges of ministry.
Titus was involved in ministry on the island of Crete, and though he
faced specific challenges in bringing the gospel to that people, Paul
affirmed that the message of the gospel would bear fruit. It is not
by personal effort or religious accomplishment but by the mercy of
God we are saved (Titus 1:5).