Overcomer - Blamelessness

Titus 1:6-16

An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. 7 Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. 8 Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. 9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

10 For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group. 11 They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain. 12 One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.”  13 This saying is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith 14 and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the merely human commands of those who reject the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. 16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

Yikes! You can only imagine what it must have felt like for the early followers of Jesus to read this letter.  This one leaves a mark!  Self-control is a prerequisite for leadership in the church.  Some folks are just lazy gluttons, detestable etc.  Tell us what you really think Paul!  Which just goes to show us that sometimes correction has to be given.  Especially when it involves people whose lives are out of control.

Reflect

Questions

Read this passage slowly thinking about the ways that lack of self-control can express itself.  Gluttony is a much wider, broader issue than just overeating isn’t it?

Looking at this passage as a whole - is there a possible connection between being gluttonous and being generally out of control?

Prayer

Father in heaven help me to reign in my appetites.  This week may everything I watch and read and eat and drink be consumed carefully and thoughtfully.  Deliver me from the sins of excess and carelessness.  I trust you to teach me to guard my heart Lord. Amen

Memory Verse

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Galatians 5:22-23a

Share

Gather some family and friends together and read this passage. Then discuss this question:  How is your fasting going?  Need any help? Pray for each other.

DFM Nation

Next Sunday we are celebrating the 135th Anniversary of Davison Free Methodist Church.  You are invited to join the party and bring a friend.