Begin with 2 minutes of silence and stillness before God.

Who doesn’t love building something new, especially with LEGOs? A spaceship, a National Monument, even an entire city – the detail and scale of those designs are amazing, but when I was a kid, I always preferred taking the blocks from the kit and building something completely original - something off-box. Now, I didn’t say I was any good at this; I just liked making something for myself. And honestly, I didn't have the patience to follow the book of instructions. I might assemble something decent, but inevitably, with no plan, no solid foundation, and the wrong kind of blocks, my shaky creation would topple; I wasn’t building something that would last. I was building something for myself that was sure to fall apart.

In one of the last letters Paul wrote, the Book of Titus, he gives instructions on how to build something that lasts. Paul wanted to teach believers to live in response to the Gospel. In Chapter 1, we learn that Titus was a missionary sent by Paul to Crete to build a network of house churches and share the hope of the Gospel. Titus’ mission to Crete was not without its challenges. The people of Crete were infamous for corruption, immoral acts, and deception. In fact, the Greek word for a liar, kretizo, means “to be a Cretan.” These were the perfect people to share the Good News of the God who cannot lie (Titus 1:2), but the faith communities around Crete were on shaky ground.

Titus had successfully set up a network of house churches throughout the island, but the Gospel was being perverted by lies and myths. Cretans, who took pride in the local lore of mythological gods, combined ideas about Jesus and Greek gods to create a god of their own making. They weren’t satisfied with the Good News offered to them through Jesus, so they made something they thought was superior. Not only was the gospel being influenced by the pagan beliefs of the islanders, but corrupt leaders taught a false gospel mixed with Jewish myths. They claimed to know God, but their actions told a different story.

Paul knew this couldn’t stand; corruption must be confronted when the Gospel is being manipulated and defiled. In Titus 1:5, Paul gives two directives. He told Titus to put leaders in place with proven character - integrity, devotion, self-control, and generosity - and Paul told Titus to confront the corruption of the Gospel. Paul wanted the house churches to be built on a strong foundation, to flourish, and for believers to have a full life through Jesus. He knew it wasn’t going to happen if they weren’t being led by godly leaders, or if lies and corruption were spreading alongside the Gospel in these communities.

This chapter wasn’t just written for Titus, church elders, and the Christians on Crete. It was written to highlight the importance of Christian living for every believer. If there is corruption and lies in our lives and ministries, it will all crumble. Cretans tried to redefine Jesus to make Him comfortable to worship, and they were denying the truth and faithfulness of God in the process. If we are adding to or taking away from the Gospel – if we are living life without any regard to what God’s Word tells us, then we aren’t worshipping the One True Living God. Are we worshiping the Savior, the Father, the Counselor, or have we made a god for ourselves?

When we live a life that honors God, it's because we have put our faith and trust in Him. This chapter isn’t about following one specific plan for church structure; it’s about living according to the gospel and letting our lives impact our communities. Jesus is the plan! When we follow Him and then put ourselves in biblical community with godly leaders of proven character and faith, the Gospel will flourish. HE makes our faith flourish. Build for yourself, and it will always crumble. Build your life on Him and His truth, and it will be a beautiful, eternal, living display of God’s goodness and glory to everyone around you. Build your life on Jesus, the Cornerstone.

"So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: 'See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.'" Isaiah 28:16

Take 2 minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• Has there ever been a time you believed a counterfeit version of the Gospel?
• What led you to believe it and led you to see that it was not the true Gospel?
• How can we ensure that we are living lives that align with the Gospel?
• Prayer: Dear Lord, would You show the ways in which I am not living as though I believe in your Gospel.  Help me to flee from the things of this world and abide in what Your scripture says. Correct me and give me wisdom in order to live a life that glorifies you.  In Jesus' name, amen. 

Family Devo: Titus 1

By: Nichole McCardle

When partnering with your family to know, love, and follow Jesus, we strive to create and share content filtered by the Head-Heart-Hands model.   

Head: the knowledge of God and His Word | Heart: the personal connection from scripture | Hands: a missional mindset  

Head

This week, we are going to read through the entire book of Titus. It’s a short book in the Bible, and it is actually a letter that was written by Paul. Paul was writing to his friend and ministry partner, Titus. Together, they had planted churches on the island of Crete. Paul left Titus in Crete so that Titus could lead and grow the churches there. But the churches were struggling. The leaders and the people in Crete were violent, greedy, and argumentative. Paul explained to Titus how to choose good leaders for the church. He explained that good leaders need to be a good example for others. They should not be easily angered, they should be kind, they should not be greedy, and they should be strong in their faith so that they can teach others.  

Heart

Paul understood the influence that leaders have on the people around them. Leaders in our lives can be our parents and teachers, but they can also be our friends. The friends in our lives have a lot of influence on how we think, act, and behave. Proverbs 13:20 teaches us to “walk with the wise and become wise”. It is important to surround yourself with friends who love you, who love Jesus, and who help you to be a good example to others.

Hands

How can you be a good leader this week? You can clean up your room before your mom even asks. You can hold the door for someone at the grocery store. You can help your teacher pass out papers. You can go play with a classmate on the playground that may be all alone. To be a good leader, you don’t have to lead a big crowd, it can start right inside your home or your classroom. 

Prayer: God, thank you for giving us the Bible to teach us to be a good leader for You. You are so amazing, and please help me to tell everyone I know about how wonderful You are. In Jesus’s name, Amen.