The Daily Dose

Running out of time

But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law;  These things are useless and a waste of time. Titus 3:9

I could tell you we are running out of time because of global warming.  I could tell you we are running out of time because Jesus is coming back soon.  However, what I really want to tell you is that we are running out of time because we are getting older.  All of us.  Not one person is getting any younger.  Eventually, all time for each individual will run out.  I don’t like to be the bearer of bad news, but I am pretty sure we all know this is true.  Yet, how many of us really believe that we are some day going to be leaving this earth.  As much as we see people leaving everyday, why does it never seem like a reality on a personal level.

Looking at today’s text, now we see why we don’t have time to get involved in foolish discussions, quarrels and fights about doctrine and denominational differences.  Paul says these things are useless and a waste of our valuable time.  So what should we be doing with our time?  What is really important and what should we be considering as our time is running out?

If you can imagine a clock as a timer, usually we watch it to see how much time we have left in a day.  What if, instead we look at that same clock with the mentality of how much time do I have left in my life.  The clock is counting down the days we are here.  I need to begin to think about what I want to accomplish in my life-time?  This is true deception: waking up each morning and thinking I can’t wait for today to be over or I don’t want to get up and face today.

It’s time to make a plan.  How are you going to make the most of your remaining time and what is going to matter when you step into eternity?  First of all, make sure that you have eternal life with your eternal Heavenly Father.  You must be born again.  Next, consider what you can take with you?  The good things you do for others and bringing others to Jesus.  Lastly, how are you going to live differently than you have been to touch the lives of those around you?

Today I want to encourage you to make a plan.  Decide what you want to really accomplish in your lifetime.  Make a list of what is important to you, then line it up with what is important to you in eternity.  Make any changes and adjustment you need to so you can make the most of the time you have remaining in this life that will carry over to the next. This life is the only opportunity you have to determine how you will spend eternity.

If you are not sure you will be with the Father of love forever, pray this prayer from your heart today:

God in heaven, I know I’m a sinner and I need a Savior.  I want to turn away from my sinful life to the life You have planned for me.  Please forgive me from my sins, cleanse me from my past, and make me new.  I know your Son, Jesus died for me.  I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead.  At this very moment, I accept, confess, and proclaim Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior . . . to be Lord of my life from this day forward.  I now have a right relationship with God my Father. I also ask for Your Holy Spirit’s power to guide me and to empower me to do the things that You have planned for my life in Jesus name, Amen

Today’s scripture reading: Titus 3:9-15

Remember

For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. Titus 3:3

How many of us have been foolish at one time or another?  What about disobedient and deceived?  In the past have you ever served various lusts, pleasures, lived in malice and envy or been hateful to others?  Sure, we all have.  In times past we have all done foolish things.  This is the reason we are to speak no evil of others, be peaceable, gentle and show humility to all people, because we were once in the same place.

Paul goes on to qualify in verse 5 that it is not by anything good that we have done, but only by the mercy and love of God that He sent Jesus to be our Savior.  Thank goodness He did.  I am so thankful that He loved us so much that His mercy and compassion came in the form of His Son Jesus.  We are justified by His grace and have become heirs according to the hope of eternal life!  Glory to God!!

Paul concludes this section by saying: This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to proclaim constantly, that those who have believed in God should be looking for every opportunity to do good works and the things that are good and profitable to all people.

Today I want to encourage you to be subject to authority.  Obey and be ready for every good work opportunity that comes your way.  Don’t talk badly about others and be peaceable, gentle and prefer others ahead of yourself.  Lastly, remember that you were once foolish and disobedient too and be kind and loving to other. You can be the instrument of God that introduces the foolish to their Savior, Jesus.

Today’s scripture reading: Titus 3:1-8

Be attractive

Slaves (employees) must always obey their masters (employer) and do their best to please them. They must not talk back or steal, but must show themselves to be entirely trustworthy and good. Then they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in every way.    Titus 2:9&10

Wow!  Turns out being a good employee has nothing to do with me, it is all about leading people to Jesus.  It doesn’t matter if I like my job, it doesn’t matter if I like my boss.  What matters is that I am making God’s message attractive in everyway to those around me.  Can I do this by grumbling and complaining like the rest of the crew?  How about if I am bad-mouthing my boss behind his/her back?  Not really, in fact, I have found that if I show respect and honor to my supervisors, they are kind back to me.  If I listen to their feed back and say ok, thank you instead of arguing my case, they are always willing to work with me because I make their job a little easier.

In the passage above, Paul tells Titus to train slaves to be obedient and do their best to please their masters.  We certainly are not slaves today and thank goodness for that.  How much easier it should be for us to be thankful and show honor to those in authority over us.  It doesn’t matter if they are nice or not, our job is to be a light in a dark place.  Trust God to take care of you and do what He says to do, that is to obey, please, don’t talk back, no stealing, be trustworthy and good.  That should not be hard because it is the way we are to conduct ourselves in all circumstances to bring honor and glory to God. We should be practicing these things in every area of our lives.

Today I want to encourage you to first of all, thank your Heavenly Father for your job.  Chances are you have that job because you prayed and asked Him for it.  Thank Him that you enjoy your job each morning when you get up before you go and tell Him how much you appreciate His supply through that employment.  Then when you get to work, look for opportunities to honor and respect your boss.  Tell them when you appreciate something they have done.  Work with them to make the day successful and encourage your coworkers to do the same.  Do the best work you can each day and decide that you are going to be the best employee you can be no matter how others are.  It won’t take long at all for others to notice, especially those in charge.  In that way you will attract others to God’s message of love and salvation.

Today’s scripture reading: Titus 2:9-15

Be an example

And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching.  Titus 2:7

I didn’t always live such a good life.  Sure, I mostly worked hard and always managed to hold down a decent job, but that was only because God was always watching over me.  The fact is that I wasted a lot of years trying to figure life out when all along I had the answers right in front of me.  I remember always wanting to find a place to fit in, but could never quite get there.  Even in the church I grew up in, there just didn’t seem to be that perfect place where I truly felt like this is the place where I was meant to be.  Of course, I knew it was the right thing to be involved in church and do my part, but still I felt like something just wasn’t right.

I dropped out for a while and got busy with life, working and being a mother, but I never found the place where I was comfortable enough with myself to fit.  I began to realize that I was trying to “fit in” some place instead of becoming who God created me to be.  Trust me, this is a work in progress, and I am still becoming even today.  The truth is, we are all becoming who God created us to be until the day we leave this world and go on to be with Him.

My point is that in becoming who God created me to be, I am that creation wherever I am and who ever I am with.  In becoming the child of God that He made me to be, I am an example to all, everywhere I go.  Whether at work, my neighborhood or even at church, I am an example by doing God’s good works of every kind.  No matter what the cost or the resources required, I can be a blessing to all, with what I have right now and who I am right now.  I will continue to grow and change and my resources will do the same, but what doesn’t change is my ability to display the goodness of God through serving and blessing others.

In this verse in Titus, Paul is telling Titus to be an example where he is by doing good works and reflecting the integrity of the ministry.  He lets Titus know that he is representing not only the ministry that Paul set up, but he is also an ambassador for the King of kings and the Lord of lords.  That needs to become our mentality.  We are not in this world to be popular or rich or beautiful.  It is ok if we are those things, but it is not our purpose and without finding that purpose, these things will never make us feel like we belong here.  It is only by giving of ourselves and doing good to those God brings our way.

Today I want to encourage you to begin to find your place in this world by becoming who God created you to be, right where you are right now.  Take a step of faith and ask your Heavenly Father to bring people your way that you can bless.  Be an example of God’s love to your neighborhood and co-workers by using your time, resources and influence to help or encourage them all.   Let everyone see how much God loves them through the way you are loving them.  It may not be very comfortable at first, but keep it up and soon you will be looking for your next opportunity to love on someone that God loves.  There is only one sure way to never be taken advantage of and that is to give all you are in love and no one will ever be able to steal if from you.

Today’s scripture reading: Titus 2:1-8

Pure living

To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.  Titus 1:15

Pure or defiled?  What do you choose?  Defiled comes naturally, but pure comes supernaturally.  How does that work?  If you choose to casually walk through life without filtering the input you are subject to each day, your thoughts and life will become defiled.  No matter how much you try to keep it clean, a defiled/unclean life will be the default.  Pure life comes from pure thoughts and pure heart, but how do you keep a pure heart in a defiled world?

The key is in what you are listening to and looking at each day.  In today’s passage, Paul tells Titus that if you listen to lies over truth, you will become defiled and unbelieving.  That means, whatever you are listening to, whether it is media or others around you, that is directing your thinking and your life.  Additionally, defiling your heart. 

In contrast, if you intentionally filter, purge out and overlay these thoughts with the Word of God, you can purify or cleanse your heart and the way you think.  Let me give you an example.  If by listening to the news and the fear/anxiety of people’s imagination around you, fear begins to grip your heart, their fears/anxieties are polluting or poisoning your heart and thoughts.  You will become afraid of rioting, looting and pandemic or whatever the latest crisis is being announced.  You allow and purposefully turn to these sources as your source for what is going on in the world . You feel you must be informed on what is going on around you and be concerned that it doesn’t come near you.  This is corrupted thinking and penetrates to your core.  Like a computer that downloads corrupted files whether programed or not, it damages the entire system.

However, there is good news.  You can purposefully override these issues and block them from getting to your core, simply by renewing your mind and heart with the Words that God gave you.  For instance, if you hear of evils being done in your neighborhood or town, you cast down those thoughts of fear by speaking “God hasn’t give me a spirit of fear, He gave me His Spirit of love, power and a sound/fixed on Him mind.”(2 Timothy 1:7)  If you hear there is a pandemic and people are dying, you override and take authority over that thought with “No evil befalls me, neither does any plague come near my house.” (Psalms 91)

I hope you get the point.  Whatever thoughts, news or words that come to you through your ears or thinking, you can keep them from corrupting your spirit by God’s Words.  Implant the seed of the Word of God in your mind and heart continuously and pure living will grow like a beautiful garden.

Today I want to encourage you to put together a list of scriptures you can turn to when any news or gossip tries to steal your peace.  Review them often until you believe what God says over what the world does.  Let the peace of God be your gauge for pure living.  When peace is missing, recognize that you need more of God’s Word, not more of the world’s deception.

Today’s scripture reading: Titus 1: 10-16

Raise up leaders

I left you on the island of Crete so you could complete our work there and appoint elders in each town as I instructed you.  Titus 1:5

Paul had a routine of going into towns and setting up churches.  Then training up someone in the area to oversee that work while Paul went on ahead to the next city.  Titus was one of the trainees that Paul left in Crete to complete what Paul had started. Titus was to train people who lived and gathered for worship there.  Paul had the same instructions at every place he set up.  As you read today’s scripture passage, you will notice that Titus is looking for elders with the same qualifications that Paul gave Timothy for his leadership team.

As you lead in your church or community, you can use these qualities to identify candidates for your team.  In whatever leadership role you have, it is always good to bring someone along to train them in what you are doing so they can fill the void when you grow into your next position. 

Starting with living a blameless life.  This doesn’t mean the person has never sinned or messed up, it just means they live with a repentant heart.  Other qualities include faithful with a good reputation and not rebellious.  Someone who manages God’s household, not arrogant or quick tempered.  Not a heavy drinker, not violent or dishonest with money.  He must enjoy being hospitable, love what is good and live wisely and just.

These are the attitudes to look for in someone to serve along side of you in your place of ministry.  By recognizing these qualities in a person, you will be ensured to select the right person to bring along with you.  Whether it is to complete a current project or begin a new one, bringing those along with you will ensure you are helping and mentoring others to be ready when they are called upon. It is also a way that we hand off God’s wisdom to the next generation.

Today I want to encourage you to bring others along with you in ministry.  Train up those who can help to successfully start and finish projects.  Whether it is ministry, vocation or recreation, look for those you can bring along with you and train in the things of integrity and wisdom.  We may not be here for the next generation, but we are responsible for making sure the things of God get passed to them.  Today, start praying about who you can bring along with you and fulfill the call of raising up the next generation of leaders.

Today’s scripture reading: Titus 1:5-9

His Words are truth

In hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.  Titus 1:2

Titus started out as the Pastor of the church in Corinth.  Like Timothy, Paul also calls him a son in the faith, meaning that he has personally trained and mentored him for many years.  In today’s key verse, Paul reminds Titus about a promise that God made even before time began.  He also reminds Titus that we know this promise is the truth because God cannot lie.  What God says, is and stands forever!  If it didn’t exist before, once God says it, it just began.  It’s not that God chooses not to lie because it is wrong or sinful, It’s because every time God speaks something new is created.  It is His creative power in action . . . His Words!

This is such a powerful revelation, because the promise that Paul is talking about is the promise of eternal life.  God set it up before time began that we would have eternal life.  He spoke eternity into existence and then it became a reality passed on to the people He created.  Paul tells Timothy, that they have been entrusted to teach the news about the promise of eternal life.  The reason was not only to bring others to the love of God through Salvation, but that the coming generations would know and continue to teach so that the message would not be lost in time and history.

Now, here we are, almost 2000 years later and the message is still true.  Sure, 2000 years seems like a long time, but compared to eternity it is just a drop in the bucket.  This message will be true and celebrated for all eternity.  Now it is our turn.  Now is it time for us to learn, train and teach the message of the truth.  The truth of eternal life, the truth of God’s love for His created people and the truth of the Salvation He gave to save His created people.  This is a big responsibility and one we should not be taking lightly.  We need a plan. A plan for learning. A plan for training and a plan for teaching others.  We cannot be the generation that lets this message die.  We must all do our part.

Today I want to encourage you to make a plan.  Start with growing closer in your relationship with your Heavenly Father.  Spend quiet time with Him each morning learning bits of scripture and talk to Him before you start your day.  Make Him the priority of your life.  Begin to filter out the voice of the world through media and other areas you have control over by asking the question “Is this God’s best for me?” Then start talking to Him about learning, training and teaching.  Ask Him to show you the best place to start.  Call on Him for guidance and open doors to opportunities.  Then be faithful to take steps in the direction He leads everyday.    Becoming faithful where you are today will open the doors of tomorrow and into eternity.

Today’s scripture reading: Titus 1:1-4

He’s got your back

But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also, I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.  2 Timothy 4:17

In this passage, Paul lists the names of everyone who left him when it was time for his case to be heard in court.  He said nobody stood with him at his first defense, but all forsook him.  He prays that it will not be held against them.  It was not a good time in history to stand up at a trial in support of someone preaching the gospel.  It would likely end in being executed alongside the convicted Christian being tried.  Paul goes on to say that the Lord stood with him and strengthened him to preach God’s message to all the gentiles.  He states that he was delivered out of the mouth of the lion, implying that as God stood with him, he was provided an escape from his first sentencing. 

We can place our hope in this truth even today, that God will do the same for us, no matter what we are up against.  He stands with us and strengthens us for everything we face in a day as we deliver His message to the people around us.  Whether it’s at work, school or home, God is always close to empower us to overcome obstacles, encourage others and show His love to those around us.  He will also deliver us from the traps, trials and tricks that the enemy throws at us.  You can personally believe that He will deliver you from every evil work and preserve you for His heavenly kingdom.

Today I want to encourage you to trust the Lord presence to go with you.  Whatever you are up against today, know that He is standing with you.  He will deliver you from the mouth of lions and He will strengthen you to be a voice in the world around you, for Him.  Then, give Him the glory and be thankful for His presence that goes with you. Rejoice in His leading and honor Him by preferring others above yourself.

Today’s scripture reading: 2 Timothy 4:15-22

Not there yet

Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.  2 Timothy 4:11

Have you ever had a friend that let you down?  Maybe they said they would do something or meet you some place, but then it didn’t happen?  Maybe you have had friends that walked away from you because you grew in different directions?

This happened to Paul.  Earlier in his ministry, Paul’s team split up over a dispute about who would go to encourage the churches with them. (see Acts 15) John Mark had been with them at some point, but was not able to handle the pressures of ministry, so he went back home.  He just wasn’t “there” yet in his spiritual walk. Acts 15:39 says that the tension became so great between Paul and Barnabas that they separated and into two different teams. 

Now here in 2 Timothy, at the end of Paul’s mission, Paul is asking for (John) Mark to come because he has grown to the point that he can be useful in ministry.  At the beginning, he wasn’t strong enough, but Barnabas worked with him until he grew to be a useful and productive member of the team.  It’s almost as if Paul regrets the “break up” of the team and wants to make it right now, at the end of his life.  He recognizes that John Mark may have disappointed him in the past, but he is still in ministry and has grown through being faithful in the little things.

The point is that if you are working with someone and they just don’t seem to be reliable, dependable or even beneficial to the cause or project you are working on, don’t give up on them.  They’re just not there yet.  Bring them along the best you can and love them where they are.  Give them small tasks that they can do until they become faithful in the small things.  In this way you can encourage them and watch how they are growing in the little jobs that you can easily clean up if they don’t get it right or even if the don’t show up for the task.

Today I want to encourage you to be patient and loving with those around you.  Encourage and help those who are not as spiritually strong as you are.  They still have something to offer.  They can be faithful in the little things.  Love them where they are and be prepared always to give them grace when they don’t quite get it right.  We all miss it sometime, help those who may be struggling with stepping into ministry one small step at a time. Soon you will be inviting them along on many of your ministry experience.

Today’s scripture reading: 2 Timothy 4:9-15

Love His appearing

Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.     2 Timothy 4:8

The older I get the more I love the thought of His appearing.  His coming to get me to take me home with Him.  It is ironic though, that my life here in this world has never been better.  When I was young and struggling, I wanted to keep His appearing far into the future, even at the end of my days here on earth.  Now, however, I long for the day to be with Him, not to escape the blessed life He has provided for me here, but only because He is my heart’s desire.

In the past I have read this passage and thought Paul was giving a sad farewell.  Now I see that he is actually excited that he is finished with his mission here in the world.  This is Paul’s victory speech.  He is ready to receive his reward.  No more prison life, no more taunting spirits and no more oppression from the enemy, he is ready to receive his crown of righteousness and he believes he will receive it from Jesus, personally.

What about you?  What is your heart’s desire?  Are you chasing after the approval of the world or are you pursuing your crown of righteousness?  Do you love the thought of His appearing or are you like I once was and hoped for it far into the future?  Let me just put it to you this way . . . the time of our departure is at hand. Have you fought the good fight? Have you finished your race?  Have you kept the faith?  Are you ready to receive your crown of righteousness which the Lord will give to you on that day?  Do you love His appearing?

Today I want to encourage you to write your victory speech.  Write out the mission and assignments you have completed for eternal purposes.  Then begin to look for Him.  Learn to love His appearing and think for the day when you will no longer be subject to the prison of life and no more oppression.  He is coming back for us, let’s begin to day to love the day of His appearing!

Today’s scripture reading: 2 Timothy 4:6-8