Bible League: Living His Word Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.If you were asked to make a list of the personal virtues of the ideal older man, then you would be hard-pressed to find a better starting point than the list the Apostle Paul gives us in our verse for today. Paul just got done telling Titus that he should "teach what accords with sound doctrine" (Titus 2:1). Significantly, his list is the first example he gives of such teaching. Older men should be "sober-minded." What does this mean? It certainly means that older men should not get drunk, but it goes beyond that basic understanding. Young men tend to be careless, thoughtless, and insensible. Older men should set an example for younger men by being careful, thoughtful, and sensible. Older men should also be dignified. What does it mean to be "dignified?" A dignified man is respectable, serious when it is called for, noble in character and bearing, and a man of distinction. An undignified man, in contrast, is indiscreet, trivial, unrefined, and a man of insignificance. Older men should be self-controlled. Christians are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, but they still struggle with the old sinful spiritual state. Self-controlled men are able to keep the sinful spiritual state under control. They do not give in to its desires and directions easily. Instead, they follow the leading of the Spirit and reflect the fruit of the Spirit. The self-controlled man of God is a man who can be counted on to do the right thing at the right time. Finally, older men should be sound in faith, love, and steadfastness (some translations have "patience"). Older men should be examples to the younger men of standing firm in the faith, so that the young will "no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes" (Ephesians 4:14). Older men should also be men of love, instead of men who give in to the anger and impetuous wrath of youth. And they should be steadfast or patient. Instead of allowing impatience to stampede them into the dead ends of life, they should wait patiently for the good things the LORD has in store. Don't think that you must be rich, have a great job, or have high social status in order to properly embody the virtues on Paul's list. With the help of the LORD, men of any means and circumstances can embody these virtues. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingEcclesiastes 4, 5, 6 Ecclesiastes 4 -- Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Ecclesiastes 5 -- Guard your steps when you go to God's house NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Ecclesiastes 6 -- There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy on men NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 2 Corinthians 10 2 Corinthians 10 -- Paul Defends His Ministry NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”Insight We must take God's great message of salvation to others so that they can respond to the Good News. How will your loved ones and neighbors hear it unless someone tells them? Is God calling you to take a part in making his message known in your community? Challenge Think of one person who needs to hear the Good News, and think of something you can do to help him or her hear it. Then take that step as soon as possible. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.The two most important things in our holy religion are the life of faith and the walk of faith. He who shall rightly understand these is not far from being a master in experimental theology, for they are vital points to a Christian. You will never find true faith unattended by true godliness; on the other hand, you will never discover a truly holy life which has not for its root a living faith upon the righteousness of Christ. Woe unto those who seek after the one without the other! There are some who cultivate faith and forget holiness; these may be very high in orthodoxy, but they shall be very deep in condemnation, for they hold the truth in unrighteousness; and there are others who have strained after holiness of life, but have denied the faith, like the Pharisees of old, of whom the Master said, they were "whitewashed sepulchres." We must have faith, for this is the foundation; we must have holiness of life, for this is the superstructure. Of what service is the mere foundation of a building to a man in the day of tempest? Can he hide himself therein? He wants a house to cover him, as well as a foundation for that house. Even so we need the superstructure of spiritual life if we would have comfort in the day of doubt. But seek not a holy life without faith, for that would be to erect a house which can afford no permanent shelter, because it has no foundation on a rock. Let faith and life be put together, and, like the two abutments of an arch, they will make our piety enduring. Like light and heat streaming from the same sun, they are alike full of blessing. Like the two pillars of the temple, they are for glory and for beauty. They are two streams from the fountain of grace; two lamps lit with holy fire; two olive trees watered by heavenly care. O Lord, give us this day life within, and it will reveal itself without to thy glory. Daily Light on the Daily Path Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law.Luke 24:45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, Matthew 13:11 Jesus answered them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. Matthew 11:25,26 At that time Jesus said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. • "Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. 1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, Psalm 139:17,18 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! • If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You. Romans 11:33,34,36 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! • For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? • For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
Click for Video Devotionals     |