Tag: Titus 2

Rebuilding & Restoring

Nehemiah 7-8

Psalm 89

Titus 2

-Devotion by Caleah Kiel (IN)

There are seasons when rebuilding is hard. We may be repairing broken relationships, restoring our faith after disappointment, or simply trying to live faithfully in a world that often pulls us in the opposite direction. The passages in Nehemiah 7-8, Psalm 89, and Titus 2 remind us that lasting restoration begins and ends with God’s faithfulness.


In Nehemiah 7, the wall around Jerusalem has finally been completed, but Nehemiah understands that a city is more than its walls. He appoints trustworthy leaders and records the people who belong to God’s covenant community. Then, in chapter 8, the people gather eagerly to hear God’s Word. As Ezra reads the Law, they are deeply convicted, even moved to tears. Yet the day does not end in sorrow. Instead, they are told, “Do not grieve, because the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Their restoration is not based on their perfection but on God’s grace, revealed through His Word.

Psalm 89 celebrates that same unchanging grace. Even in the midst of questions and hardship, the psalmist anchors his hope in God’s covenant faithfulness. Human circumstances change. Kingdoms rise and fall. People fail. But God’s promises remain secure because His character never changes. His steadfast love is the foundation beneath every season of life.


Titus 2 brings these truths into everyday living. Paul teaches that God’s grace not only saves us but also trains us to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for the return of Christ. Grace is not merely forgiveness for yesterday; it is power for today and hope for tomorrow. As people who have experienced God’s faithfulness, our lives become living testimonies that point others to Him.


Together, these passages paint a beautiful picture. God’s faithful love calls us into His family, His Word transforms our hearts, and His grace shapes the way we live. We don’t pursue holiness to earn God’s favor; we pursue it because we already belong to Him. Just like the people gathered in Jerusalem, we find strength not in our own resolve but in the joy that comes from knowing the Lord.


Whatever you may be rebuilding today, remember that the same faithful God who restored His people, kept His covenant, and redeemed us through Christ is still at work. His Word will guide you. His grace will sustain you. His joy will strengthen you.

Questions

  1. What are you working on rebuilding today? What might God want to see you rebuiding? What might rebuilding steps look like?
  2. In what ways have you experienced the joy of the Lord as being Your strength? Are there any areas where you need to lean into this strength more and more?
  3. What do you think of when you think of God’s faithfulness? How can you make God’s faithfulness known through all generations (Psalm 89:1)?

Prayer


Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us love that never fails and promises that never change. Thank You for calling us into Your family through Your grace. Give us hearts that hunger for Your Word, lives that reflect Your goodness, and the strength to live faithfully each day. When we grow weary, remind us that our hope rests not in ourselves but in Your unchanging character. May Your joy be our strength as we wait for the glorious return of Your Son Jesus. Amen. 

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

Am I Greek?

Titus 2

Friday, September 16, 2022

During our most recent homeschooling year, my children and I studied world history from Creation through Greek civilization, reading the biblical accounts alongside mainstream history that was happening synchronologically.  It was so interesting to see all of the historical events weaving together to validate the Bible! When we studied Greece, we also learned about the Greek gods and goddesses, which proved to be a great opportunity to reinforce to my children the concept of false gods and idols. It also allowed for discussions about why we follow YHWH, the one true God.

Titus, to whom Paul wrote this letter, was a Greek convert to Christianity. He was leading a church, and there were a lot of problems within it. The gods of the Greeks were corrupt (for example, Zeus, the main god, was a promiscuous liar), and the Cretan Christians were getting mixed up with the qualities of the Greek gods versus the one true God, as well as copying the behaviors of the people around them. As such, there were many issues that needed to be addressed to maintain order in the church and help the new Christians get back on track with Jesus. Paul specifically speaks of men and women (both young and old), as well as slaves, with different ideals that were specific to their situation. However, all of the things Paul listed are qualities that we should all aspire to attain. I like the way The Message records verses 1-10 (I’ve put in bold the main actions):

“Your job is to speak out on the things that make for solid doctrine. Guide older men into lives of temperance, dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance. Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don’t want anyone looking down on God’s Message because of their behavior. Also, guide the young men to live disciplined lives. But mostly, show them all this by doing it yourself, trustworthy in your teaching, your words solid and sane. Then anyone who is dead set against us, when he finds nothing weird or misguided, might eventually come around. Guide slaves into being loyal workers, a bonus to their masters—no back talk, no petty thievery. Then their good character will shine through their actions, adding luster to the teaching of our Savior God.”

Yet again, though written for a certain people in a specific time, we are not that different from the Greeks; we, too, have idols, are prone to wander, and can easily be misled by the culture around us. All of these qualities Paul listed are still admirable ambitions for all of us today! Which ones will be your focus in the coming weeks? 

Much of Paul’s advice to the Cretan church involved the older people being good examples and leaders to the younger people. There is an old saying that goes, “It takes a village to raise a child,” meaning that it is important for the child to have many good influences, as well as for the parent to have support in the difficult journey of parenting. No one could have prepared me for the mental and physical exhaustion that accompanies the wonderful joy of being a mother – and it isn’t getting much easier as my children grow older, either! I know I need help sometimes and have been grateful to some wonderful ladies in my church family (and actual family) who have come alongside me to offer help when needed. There is someone out there who can benefit from your prayers, your stories, your listening ears, and your godly wisdom, and there is likewise someone more experienced in the faith who could be all those things for you as well. 

Paul ends by reminding us that we have been saved by grace, and through our salvation, we are called to deny the passions of this world, striving to “live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives”. But that is not all! We are still waiting for our promised hope, when Jesus will return and redeem us again, bringing us into the Kingdom as his family. That is our goal. That is our hope. That is our happy ending. We must stay focused on the goal, spread the good news, and seek strength to live for God during this life, no matter what it may bring.

-Rachel Cain

Reflection questions: 

-What does it mean to you to live a self-controlled, upright, and godly life? Are there any changes you need to make to do so?

– Is there someone younger than you (or younger in the faith, rather than in age) whom you could mentor? What about a godly person who might be willing to mentor you? Invite each of these people into your life.

2022 SeekGrowLove Bible Reading PlanDownload