Tuesday
Titus 1:13b-16, 3:10-11

There are two responses to life in a broken world: Live and die by traditions and myths of religion OR live and die by truth and grace. Paul writes that those who hold to Jewish tradition reject truth, have corrupted minds and consciences, and claim to know God but deny him with their actions. They are “mere talkers, deceivers” who “must be silenced because they are ruining whole households.” What an incitement!

In contrast, Paul instructs Titus to harshly rebuke the Cretans, confronting them with the truth motivated by grace—not self-imposed rules. “To the pure, all things are pure.” Titus is to warn those who are divisive twice and after that, have nothing to do with them. How’s that for a church growth strategy?!

Do I claim to know God but deny him with my actions? Do I live and die on tradition/religion, or do I seek to live authentically in grace and truth? Think about your response(s) to living in a broken world. Do you long for the good ole days of the church or of our country? Or instead, are you grace-filled, correcting others according to the truth? Only the latter will produce transformed lives in a broken world.