For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
Titus 1:5
Dear Church and Friends,
When my wife and I were first married we baby-sat a little girl who was the daughter of a friend. We loved caring for her, but one thing we noticed was how she was so afraid of being left. Her father had walked out on the family and that trauma had etched itself into her young soul. Any time either my wife or I said that we were going to the store, alarms went off in her heart. She didn’t understand that we were coming back.
Separation is hard on us especially if we’ve experienced abandonment. Consider Titus who was left in Crete by Paul. He was traveling with the apostle, working side by side with him to establish churches and support them. In the opening verses of Paul’s letter to Titus we discover that the apostle left him on Crete, by himself.
However, this wasn’t abandonment, rather, it was strategic. He was given a task that only he could fulfill. His purpose is also the outline for the letter that bears his name.
- One: that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, there were plenty of things that needed attention. Paul addresses those things in the letter. For example see 1:9-16.
- Two: and ordain elders in every city, It wasn’t just elders but every level of fellowship in the church (elders, bishops, men, women, and servants.)
- Three: as I had appointed thee: This was not Titus’ plan but the apostle’s. Paul knew Titus well enough to know that he could be trusted to do this work. He gave him the task of helping the Corinthian church which must have prepared him for this assignment.
Just as Titus had a purpose in Crete so do we. Not in Crete perhaps but in “our Crete” wherever that may be in the world. We’ve not been left, we’ve been appointed. The Covid crisis forces us to examine where we are (because we’ve been stuck there.) Now let’s take that providential action not as abandonment but as an appointment.
We have been saved to do good works. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). While on Crete let us set in order the things that are lacking. Look around, where can you make a difference? To whom can you bring the light of Christ? How can you help relieve the suffering of others?
Let’s embrace our purpose and calling where we are and walk in good works.
Music: The Goodness of Jesus by CityALight.
Prayer Requests: Please pray for the following.
- Sunil Prasad, Cincinnati, Ohio. Sunil Prasad planted Relationships Indian Community Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. “Please continue to lift our church plant in prayer. We are praying 10 families will join us. We have had 53 converts thus far. Please pray for our protection spiritually and for my health. Thank you.”
Consider supporting Creek Road Baptist Church through the Amazon Smile program. Use this link to select Creek Road Baptist Church as your designated charity. Once you have made this selection simply begin using Smile.Amazon.com (instead of using Amazon.com). No credits are available using just Amazon.com. Please contact the church office or Pastor Dave if you need help or have any questions.
Craig’s Catechism: The Third Part of Our Belief.
- Question 251: Who is the Holy Spirit? Answer: He is God, equal with the Father, and the Son.
- Question 252: From whence does He proceed? Answer: From the Father and the Son.
- Question 253: What is His general office? Answer: He puts in execution all things that are decreed by God’s secret counsel.
All my best.
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