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Today is Friday December 11, 2009 and we are studying the books of Titus and Philemon, please read these books in your Bible or Click Here to read them. You can also copy & paste this URL to your browser http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-december-11

Today's Message: Example of Christ
Although we are all saved by the blood of Jesus through the grace of God and are not required to work to keep our salvation that does not mean we are to continue to live ungodly lives. We are to be an example of Christ, not Satan.

The book of Titus is the 17th book of the New Testament, the 56th book of the Bible, and contains 3 chapters. The author of the book is Paul and it was written to Titus, a Greek convert and fellow worker with Paul. The purpose of the letter was to correct problems and establish proper order in the churches located on the island of Crete. What we are to learn from it is that founding a good work is not enough. That work must be established and organized according to the principles of God's Word. The book of Philemon is the 18th book of the New Testament, the 57th book of the Bible, and contains 1 chapter. The author of the book is Paul and it was written to Philemon, a Christian who lived at Colosse. The purpose of the letter was to appeal for Onesimus, the runaway slave of Philemon who had become a believer. What we are to learn from it is that Christian principles must be applied to social relationships as well as personal.

The churches on the island of Crete needed spiritual leadership, so Paul instructed Titus to ordain qualified men to fill these positions. Paul describes the character of the men that were to be in charge. “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: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.” - Titus 1:5-11. What Paul is saying here is that there are many men that are leaders of a church setting and following man made laws instead of following God's laws. For example Catholics require that their male children be circumcised, much like the Jews did before the New Testament. This is a man made law, not God law as this law became void after Jesus Christ died and arose to save us from all those laws. As I said before, I go soul winning every Thursday and whenever we run into someone that is Catholic, the first thing they say is, I'm Catholic, like that is going to get them to heaven. Let me tell you something, I grew up Catholic and that is not what is taking me or any Catholic, Jew, or any other religion to heaven. What is taking me to heaven is my faith and acceptance of the Lord, Jesus Christ and that goes for anyone who comes to Jesus and asks Him to come into their lives. He is the only way to heaven and anything else being told to you is all lies and this is what Paul is trying to tell these people as well as all of us.

Paul also gave instruction that older men and women should teach the younger men and women, instructing them to forsake evil passions and worldly ambitions, and to live honorably before the Lord. “Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” - Titus 2:9-14. Our teaching must be based upon the threefold work of Christ for His people as a result of His death upon the cross. 1) He set us free, 2) He set us apart from the world, and 3) He called us to be devoted to do good works, even though it was not required.

Paul simply identifies himself as a prisoner of Christ, although he was imprisoned by the Roman Empire, he knew who really had control of his life. In his letter to Philemon he expressed the same attitude of gratitude. “Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother. Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.” - Philemon 1:5-9. The world believes Christian's to be stiff necked, unhappy people, with no life to them, but they fail to realize that when we live a godly life we do have life and no matter what we face we can rejoice through it all because we know that Christ is with us and will take care of us. Although Paul spent a lot of time in prison among other things he suffered he got through every one of them. He never knew when his last day on earth would be, but he did know where he was going when he did leave and that was joining Jesus in heaven.

Have a wonderful and blessed day/night and Merry Christmas
God Bless You,
Christina

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