Paul wants Titus to exhort people: “Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one,
to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people” (3:1-2). Oh, my! If ever a need existed for this sort of comportment, that time is now. This election season might not be the worst I’ve ever seen, but it sure is close. Especially, we as Christians – of whom Paul reminds us: “We ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another” (3:3) – must avoid all ugliness. Once, we were ugly. But now, “when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (3:4-7). We are different, and we act differently toward one another than those in the world. Jesus even said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).
How wretched was our former state,
when, slaves to Satan’s sway,
with hearts disorder’d and impure,
o’erwhelmed in sin we lay!
But, O my soul! for ever praise,
for ever love his name,
who turn’d thee from the fatal paths
of folly, sin, and shame. –Isaac Watts (1796)
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