A Trustworthy saying: Be ready to do what is good

READ: Ezekiel 5,6; Psalms 125; Titus 3

SCRIPTURE: Titus 3: 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

OBSERVATION:  It is said that Gandhiji, who is fondly remembered as the Father of Nation in India,  once said, “I like your Christ, but not your Christianity.” People say similar statements to point out Christians’ christless lifestyle. People from other faiths expect Christians will be like Jesus. Jesus taught us to follow him and his example (Mt.16:24-25; Jn.13:15). Here, Apostle Paul asks Titus to emphasize what he explained in verses 4-7 about salvation and doing good things. “This is a trustworthy saying” is a phrase that appears only in Paul’s pastoral epistles. Paul uses it five times to highlight his key teachings (1 Tim.1:15; 3:1; 4:9; 2 Tim 2:11; Titus 3:8). These truthful sayings tell us the purpose of Christ’s incarnation, blessed benefits of godliness, our hope, the glory of our suffering with Christ, and an exhortation to do good, respectively.

In Titus 3:3, Paul tells us the former state of the believers before they accepted Christ. Verses 4-7 explain the process of our salvation. We were once dead in our sins; all our righteousness was “like filthy rags.” We were not eligible to receive salvation. But God justified us by his grace and saved us. Our good works do not have the power to earn God’s salvation.  After explaining the sound doctrine of salvation, Paul talks about Christian duty. Those who trusted/believed God must do good things. Doing what is good is not an option but an obligation for us. It is the result of our salvation; we do good works to express our love and gratitude for God. In Eph.2:10, Paul says, “we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Our good works glorify our heavenly Father before humans (Mt.5:16). We are to be salt and light to the world to enrich the lives of people who live in darkness. As Paul says, “These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.” We should not give any lame excuses for not doing good works. Let us serve God not just with our lips but also with our hearts (Is.29:13; Mt.15:8-9).

APPLICATION: I should remember that God saved me by grace through faith, not by my works. Before I accepted Christ as my Lord and saviour, I may have lived a worldly and ungodly life. But now, Christ’s love compels me to live for God. The good works I do can be an opportunity for others to taste and know Christ’s love and find salvation in him. I must be ready to do whatever good works Christ prompts me. 

PRAYER:  Father God, thank you for your love that saved me. Lord, thank you for choosing me to do your good works. Holy Spirit, enable me to live for God’s glory in words and deeds and show love to all. Amen.

- Arputharaj Samuel
+91 9538328573

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