Titus 1:1-5 ~ This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—

Titus 1:1-5


1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began^{[before times eternal]} 3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;

4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith:

Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—


Before the ages, before times eternal, God HIMSELF was putting His plan in motion.

Jeremiah 1:4-5
4 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”


Psalm 139:16
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

Titus was not called back to be with Paul, at his time of death.

Which is an important concept to us. God is God of Today. The events we live with each day are God's purpose for our lives.

Matthew 22:29 paraphrased
know the Scriptures and the power of God.

Psalm 68:19
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

I have a dear friend who had a very sad situation with a grown child who could not be healthy. We all prayed for her. Her grown child got healthy, got married and began to live on her own. Other one had her favorite child, who lived across the continent, began to seek work and the move which would never take place, placed her grandchildren, previously seen once a year, into her daily life.

If we don't remember what to be grateful for, we exist badly. We become complacent instead of rejoicing in the Great Mercies He has bestowed in Steadfast Love.

Each day, if we remember to ask, He gives us something to do to bring His will done in this life. Sometimes, we are called to love ourselves. And other times to love others.

Francis of Assisi's Rule of 1221, Chapter XII on how the Franciscans should practice their preaching: "No brother should preach contrary to the form and regulations of the holy Church nor unless he has been permitted by his minister . . . All the Friars . . . should preach by their deeds."

In other words: "Preach the gospel; use words if necessary"

Paul's Letter to Timothy, a man he considered his son in the faith was also along these lines:

1 Timothy 3
The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer[must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

We must never forget He is Love.

Isaiah 49:16
Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.


2 John 1
The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth, 2 because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:

3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love.

4 I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. 5 And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.


3 John 1
The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers[siblings] came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.


The Purpose of Life is Grow Up and Go Home, To HIM.



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