CHARACTER IN ACTION
Suggested Reading: TITUS 1-3
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
The Corinth Canal passageway was finally cut through the mainland in 1893 after several attempts dating back 2700 years ago. This canal connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. The canal is 6.4 kilometres (4.0 mi) in length and only 21.4 metres (70 ft) wide at its base. Although the canal saves the 700-kilometre (430 mi) journey around the Peloponnese, it is too narrow for modern ocean freighters, as it can only accommodate ships of a width of up to 16.5 metres (54 ft) and a depth (bottom of ship) of 7.3 metres (24 ft).
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Titus 3:1-2, 14
Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men…And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful!
Titus was the pioneer pastor in the island of Crete. In order to start the church off in the right way, he needed to implant the true DNA of the Church of Jesus Christ!
Titus 1 – True Christianity was spreading throughout the land, but so was false teaching concerning the faith. Like weeds that encroach upon a newly ploughed garden, so heresy was spreading. Therefore, Titus was to carefully screen and appoint well-qualified leaders. He was to rebuke sharply any who might use their position for “dishonest gain,” and those who “profess to know God, but in works they deny Him.”
Titus 2 – We are taught to say “NO” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.
Titus 3 – We are reading the entire small book of Titus today. It’s all strong and challenging teaching. However, there is one word in Titus 3:14 that stands out as the key to living a life pleasing to God! It’s the word, “LEARN!” I’ve just checked the Oxford dictionary and it says that “LEARN” means to acquire knowledge and skill, to become competent, to grasp, to master, to absorb, to assimilate, to digest, to study, to read up on, to be taught, etc. O.K. Paul, we get the message you wanted Titus to share with the Cretan believers.
Now, we may want to read this little book once more without interruption, letting the words and thoughts soak into our characters!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I pray that I will confess You before others, not only in my words, but in my every action. Teach me to say “NO” to all ungodliness, and may I learn to live an upright and godly life. Help me Lord, from minute to minute, to be consistent in the practical doing of Your word, loving not only in word but in deed. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Our son Ron and his wife Ann, along with their son-in law, Rev. Jason Patterson, are here with Norma-Jean and me in Israel (see photo below). We have 100 people in our tour group and in our leadership of the group, we’re doing our best to live up to the instructions found here in Titus. The dear people on our tour are becoming like family. As Paul taught, we truly seek to help with “every good work.” I’m particularly concerned about the Filipino people and their awful disaster. Paul said that we are “to meet urgent needs.” Dr. John Hull, Moira Brown, and the missions team are leading us in practical and very effective ways of helping these most needy people on earth at present. I urge all blog readers to send donations to Crossroads Relief and Development (the government of Canada through our taxes will match our donations dollar for dollar, so $100.00 becomes $200.00, and so on). You can write to Crossroads,1295 North Service Road, Burlington, Ontario, L7R 4M2. Or you can call with credit card in hand to 1-800-265-3100. Also, HERE is a link with more info and a way you can donate online. John Hull knows the Philippines very well and has a tried-and-proven partner organization on the ground there who will maximize the effectiveness of the gift Norma-Jean and I are sending. He’ll make sure all gifts do the job for God and for people. Right here in this land of Israel, Jesus said, “Inasmuch as you’ve done it unto the least of one of these, you’ve done it unto Me.”
Yours for being all God wants us to be and for doing all He wants us to do,
David
Here’s a picture I took here in Tel Aviv, Israel, at sunset last evening of Ron, Ann, and Jason. Behind them in the west is the Mediterranean Sea. It says to me that time is short and the darkness is coming. Jesus said, “The night is coming when no man can work” (John 9:4b). Let’s do our best now!
Sin is a big problem. One of the major troubles in our day is the rebellious nature. Authority is not respected nor does authority always garner a lot of respect. No one wants to be subordinate, everyone wants to be the ruler of their own lives and the god of their own destination. I suspect it’s been this way since the days of Adam & Eve, although I suppose with the internet it makes it only seem so much more prevalent in our own generation. God however has set His order upon everything. Here for example in Titus, Paul gives strict guidelines for leaders in the church, as well, he shows how all Christians ought to build up their character in righteous living. Romans 8:17 goes as far to say that “together with Christ we are heirs to God’s glory”, imagine that? God has set his people apart for Godly living, each of us who call Jesus Lord have been given a high calling. I pray that we might all live in the glory and love of the Lord and that we might all let this small book of Titus with it’s big message, sink deeply into our hearts and thoughts this day. Amen.
What a lovely picture of Ron, Ann & Jason in Tel Aviv! I’m so glad that you are able to share a special family experience together in Israel.
I agree completely, Scott. It’s so nice to have you back sharing your thoughts and comments. God bless you today!!
Amen, Scott!
amen to your prayers David & Scott
Lianne Hogg
What a great picture!! Enjoy your time with family and friends. May you have renewed strength as you are in Israel for these next 2 weeks. God bless each and everyone who are accompanying you on this wonderful trip. May they be forever changed as a result of this experience.
More of you Lord and less of me! Titus struck a chord woth me today as I remember days when I was rebellious. Praising God for salvation because of what THe Lord Jesus did at Calvary. It is worthy of a second reading.
A big amen to your prayer Pastor David and your comments Scott.
Lovely picture of Ann, Ron and Jason.
Tomorrow we leave for two weeks in South America but I will continue in our blog, praying for all of you and in our daily feeding of The Word.
My unspoken request for our family will culminate on Nov. 27th. Knowing my Lord has it all in His hands. Would you pray for us?
The Lord bless each one of you and your family in Christ Pastor David as you tour the Holy Land. Safety and good health.
God bless you, Catherine! Have a safe trip and will indeed be praying for your family!
Do you mean time is short for you personally or the world generally ?!?! Either way Thankyou for your holy Leadership!!!! Thank you Jesus for this man!!!!!!!!!!! Amen
It is Jesus who said to work while we have the light. This is the second time I have seen pastor David refer to this scripture in response to a comment about the darkness of the times. Also, man’s life is but a hand’s breadth as King David said. We will always be able to help people in some way but the antichrist is scattering the power of the holy people as Daniel said would happen. Blessed are they who remain faithful to the end (Daniel 12).
In order to LEARN we must have a TEACHABLE spirit and that spirit comes from a willingness to acknowledge we don’t know everything. Many think they have all the answers and can’t wait to tell everyone else what they should think and feel, but in reality most of them are the ones whose spirits are so harden that they cannot absorb the lessons God tries to send them each day, because they are so certain of their knowledge. Those who are truly spiritually mature are usually the ones that know next to God they are merely babies and know nothing other than there great need and dependency on Him.
Scott so profound . Diddo to all of the above.
Blessings to all have a wonderful day 🙂
M.
Sent in my donation for the Philippine relief, when I watched 100 Huntley Street, this morning, David and Norma-Jean. I am so grateful to know the Canadian gov’t is matching what we send, dollar for dollar. Holding up all of the Filipinos in my heartfelt prayers and through my tears for the devastating losses they are experiencing.
Here is a poem, I wrote, yesterday, for our Golden Harvesters’ luncheon:
In Love With Your Embrace
Oh Holy, Holy, is our Lord,
You are the God, of power and might.
We sing out praises, to Your name,
And shout with joy, for Your delight,
And shout with joy, for Your delight.
For You alone, Lord, are the rock,
On which we stand, for to be saved.
And without You, we are but dust,
In Your holy image, we were made,
In Your holy image, we were made.
Though trials and tribulations flow,
Some days are harder, than the last.
But to You, Lord, we turn in trust,
Our faith builds stronger, in Your hands,
Our faith builds stronger, in Your hands.
We know we’re sheltered, by Your wings,
The pain of past wars, fall behind.
We claim Your holy Word, in strength,
Your scriptures are, the truth divine,
Your scriptures are, the truth divine.
Oh Holy, Holy, is our King,
This flock will follow, as You lead.
Your Christ light shines, so bright within.
Through which the Holy Spirit, breathes,
Through which the Holy Spirit, breathes.
We praise You, Lord, our God on high,
Your mercy, splendour, love and grace.
We feel Your presence, ever near.
We are in love, with Your embrace,
We are in love, with Your embrace.
Beverlee Kay
c. Nov. 2013
Blessings, fellow saints.
So nice to read after a long day! Thank you Beverlee-Kay.
Beautiful poem Beverlee Kay!
Beautifully written and praise for our King!
Yes ipray along with you my brothers and sisters and that is a wonderful pic
Could all of you pray for my so in law Scot he is 41 and had a heart attack last night
Good bless all of you in Jesus name Amen
Dear Brenda
Trusting God fpr his healing in Jesus Name. Will hold him and the family in prayers
My prayers for Scot.
Brenda…Praying for your son-in-law’s full recovery. Blessings to you and your family!
Hi Brenda
I pray for a total recovery for your son-in-law Scott for the healing power of Jesus Christ to flow through his whole body, in the Mighty Name of JESUS I pray, Amen!!!
I pray in unison with Irene, Brenda, for Scott’s full recovery. In Jesus’ name, amen!
Thanks and Amen to the prayers for Scott. for all that is posted before today. Glad you arrived safely in Israel, David, Norma-Jean, Ron, Ann and Jason and looking forward to following along with this trip.
Amen to the prayers for Scott and thanks for all that has been posted before. May the Lord bless this trip to Israel, David, Norma-Jean, Ron, Ann, Jason and group as well as your trip, Catherine. Yes, and am still keeping the Philippians in prayer and remembering the need there as well as the home front.
“For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you: if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, 8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict (Titus 1:5).”
Also,
“Therefore you shall love the Lord your God and keep His charge, His statutes, His judgments, and His commandments always (Deuteronomy 11:1).”
Dear Rev David M and family
What a joy to see you all together in the Holy Land. The first picture we are getting will be hard to beat seeing the beautiful sunset of our Creator in the background and your beautiful smiles. Will be keeping you all in prayers as you journey on your 2 weeks of adventure. May God richly bless you all and keep you under the shadow of His Wings.
Please keep me in prayers as I prepare for my son Richard wedding on Saturday. I wish with all my heart that Jesus will be the guest of honor on this momentous occasion.
Scott thank you so much for your wonderful insight. So glad to have you back in full force God is truly amazing.
Journeying mercies to you Catherine.
God bless you all.
xxxCarole
Thank you Carole and everyone for you prayers. I will join those who are praying for Brenda’s son-in-law, Scott, that God ‘s healing hand will bring him through.
Also praying that your son’s wedding will glorify the Saviour. Enjoy the day Carole . Blessings.
Wonderful picture – lovely to see Ron, Ann, & Jason, my son!!! Glad you are all together in the Holy Land with David and Norma Jean where our Lord Jesus walked and taught. Praise the Lord for family. Love you all!
David, I can’t express to you how much your 100 words has enriched my time in devotion. The technical aspects bring such a wide scope to the depth of teaching in God’s word. Thank you for being so real in your faith and in sharing true love before your God and each of us. I also lift Rob F. before the throne of our Savoir for a touch of the masters hand. If I never meet you on this side of glory I will look you up in the city of our God.
Blessings to you, Norma Jean, Ron, and Ann, enjoy you time in the Holy Land
Wendy
Titus sets a wonderful framework for which we can live and aspire to. Great pick from the Holy Land! Praise God!