I feel like I have read this before

Titus 1:5-9

⁵ The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. ⁶ 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.

Does this list of do’s and don’ts seem familiar? Maybe you have read it before or perhaps you read it somewhere else in the bible?

The list of requirements for elders of the church given here in Titus is very similar to the list given by Paul to ALL the Galatians believers. He tells them NOT to live by the ways of the flesh, by which he means the ways of the sinful nature, and he gives a list. “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21)

He then goes on to reminds them what to DO – to live by the Spirit! “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23). Life lived by the Spirit is contrary to life lived in sin. ALL of us who follow Jesus are called to live life by the Spirit and relate to one another as God commands “…to love our neighbour as ourselves” (Galatians 5:14).

In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3-10) Jesus says that those who will be blessed are the merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, gentle, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (right relationship with God and others).  In Philippians, Paul and Timothy, remind the believers to imitate Christ and they conclude saying, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things…—put it into practice.” (Philippians 4:8-9).

So, although this list here in Titus is written to leaders, it is a clear principal of the New Testament that we are ALL called to live by the ‘way of the Holy Spirit’, in right relationship with God and our neighbours.

God, please help me. Make me more like Jesus. Help me Holy Spirit to truly love my neighbour as I love myself. Help me today to stop ___ (insert here what sinful ways you want to stop) and please help me instead to ___ (insert here what you now want to do in the power of the Spirit).

Amen. 

Written by Ps. Zoe Stewart