Titus Chapter 1 – ‘A Bondservant of God and An Apostle of Jesus Christ’

Although this chapter is not new to me, reading it more thoroughly this time around, the assertiveness, certainty and clarity in Paul’s writing stands out. 

Regardless of context, the dual responsibility of ‘set(ting) in order the things that are lacking’ (Titus 1: 5) and appointing people to positions of power and influence is heavy and consequential – particularly in the early establishment of firm foundations, there is little to no room for error, doubt, or grey areas.

Even more so, in matters relating to God and the defence and preservation of His truth and the church, no stone is to be left unturned.

When we reflect upon the various roles and work God has committed unto us, whether we have willingly accepted and tackled them or not, how consistently diligent were we at seeing to them from start to finish? How convicted or confident were we in those roles and in the work?

Most importantly, what is our attitude, what is our conduct, what is our heart towards the work of our hands, our faith with deeds? Is the steady godliness we exhibit outwardly, at church, at work, at school, at the bank, at the ‘downstairs kopitiam’, just as sure as who we are to those dearest to us at home?

As we read, learn and grow through the rest of this epistle, may God guide us in drawing parallels between:

• The content of this epistle and the interconnectedness of each of the different aspects of our lives, and 
• The inseparable links between our faith and practice, our beliefs and behaviour.

•