Sound Teaching and Christian Living – Titus 2

Joy: You’re listening to the Lifting Her Voice podcast, Episode #202.  Today we’ll read Titus chapter 2 together:  Paul talks to Titus about sound teaching and Christian living.

Welcome to the Lifting Her Voice podcast.  I’m your host, Joy Miller, and I invite you to grab your Bible and join me as we simply read God’s word together.  Some things require discipline and sometimes that’s just not easy to muster by yourself, no matter how badly you want to do it or how much you know you should.  It’s just easier to do it with a friend.  So refill your coffee or tea, get comfortable in your favorite chair and follow along as I read aloud.  I’m so glad you’re here!

Welcome

Jesus changes things.  Prayer changes things.  And what a precious sight when someone we love embraces that belief and experiences blessings.  My sister recently received just such a blessing and I have permission to tell her tale!

The story begins when Kay and her significant other were kind of picking at each other and instead of allowing it to spiral up into a full-blown argument, she suggested that they pray.  As they prayed, she found herself being led to resist the evil one and tell him to flee, as the Word tells us to do.  Harmony resumed and they thought that was the end of it.

Until Sean opened the front door.

Taped to their door was a notice from the property management company giving them 60 days to vacate.  And not because they had done anything wrong.  

Kay was stunned and devastated.  This little duplex had been her home for upward of a decade and it meant a lot to her.  When she texted me later, she described it as feeling like her life was over.  For an hour and a half, she said all she did was cry.  And then she got busy.  

Prayer Changes Things

The long and the short of it is that a friend of hers who owns a little triplex was more than willing to rent to her.  It needs a little work but that is not something my sister has ever been afraid of.  It seems that her prayer that morning accomplished more than avoiding a squabble.  It had strengthened and equipped her for what was yet around the corner.  This was all history by the time she texted me.  She was singing His praises and incredulous that He would provide for her in such a short time.

My friend Alex Meadows, of Alex Meadows Ministries, said something in his podcast last week that resonated with me and I think it applies here.  He said, “We don’t have to pray for blessings.  Blessings are an outcome of obedience.”

I Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to pray constantly.  I too stopped today to bring something before the Lord that I was troubled about.  I think we forget that He has invited us to come boldly before His throne of grace.  Thanks, Kay, for reminding us of this.  If you too have a story of answered prayer and obedience-induced blessings, please share at Lifting Her Voice.com, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Titus Chapter 2

Sound Teaching and Christian Living

But you are to proclaim things consistent with sound teaching. Older men are to be self-controlled, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love, and endurance. In the same way, older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not slaves to excessive drinking. They are to teach what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, to be self-controlled, pure, workers at home, kind, and in submission to their husbands, so that God’s word will not be slandered.

In the same way, encourage the young men to be self-controlled in everything. Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity in your teaching. Your message is to be sound beyond reproach, so that any opponent will be ashamed, because he doesn’t have anything bad to say about us.

Slaves are to submit to their masters in everything, and to be well-pleasing, not talking back or stealing, but demonstrating utter faithfulness, so that they may adorn the teaching of God our Savior in everything.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.

Proclaim these things; encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

Closing Thoughts

Well, shoot.  John MacArthur was right in his overview of Titus.  I have absolutely nothing to add here.  The simplicity of this chapter and the practical teaching it gives, is so heart rending, I want to cry.

All I can say – and this goes for me too – Go and do likewise.  Let’s pray.

Prayer

Father, I thank You for this uncomplicated wisdom.  Men teaching boys to be men.  Women teaching girls to be women.  Workers demonstrating faithfulness so there is integrity in the workplace.  What straightforward instructions and yet so perfect, so complete.  Father, please help us be like this.  Let no part be ignored or minimized.  I pray that our adherence to these directives be pleasing in Your sight.  Amen.

Thank you for joining me here today.  I pray God will grow in you what has been planted and watered here.  In this time of unprecedented struggle worldwide, we can look to God for guidance and comfort.  Be sensitive to those in your circle of influence who need a word of encouragement and invite them to join us.  If you like this show, it would be great if you give it a five-star review.  Don’t forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  See you right here tomorrow.  Be well!

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible(r), Copyright (c) 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible(r) and CSB(r) are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.