Meditation

04/14/2022

“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s believers and the knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me, by the command of God our Savior. To Titus, my true son in our common faith: ‘Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our savior.’” (Titus 1:1-4)

Although there is any evidence that Paul began the church in Crete, it is clearly evident that he sent Titus there to finish what had already begun. This opening, like many of Paul’s, gave evidence of his servant-hood of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, gives witness to the work being done in the Crete Church and affirms Titus as the head of the missionary church. God had called Paul to preach the knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God had promised before the beginning of time, and Paul was called to preach, In turn, Paul had called Titus to continue the work in Crete and their shared a common faith together by God and our Savior Jesus Christ. Paul was effective in his letters to churches and their leadership, to continue missionary work that was required for the church to grow and bear fruit for God.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Precious Abba, today lift our hands to honor two of God’s faithful; Paul and Titus, specifically and for all ministers who seek to preach the gospel message of faith in the hope of eternal life for those who worshiped and praise God and our Savior Jesus Christ, for our abundant blessings bestowed upon us for faithful servants seeking to follow the will of God in their lives. Today also pray those who are suffering in body, mind, and/or spirit, with friends, family, for those we don’t know, especially the people in Ukraine, as they are fighting for their very lives and way of life. Amen

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“To handle yourself, use your head. To handle others, use your heart.”

KNOWING GOD:

“When I cam to you brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so hat your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.” (1^st Corinthians 2:1-5)

Proclamation should be simple and transparent. The sage is not to be obscured with eloquent words and confusing rhetoric. Paul refused to use clever language or to manipulate God’s Word in any way. He presented the gospel with a simple and open statement of truth. He depended on the Spirit’s power to change lives. This dramatic change in the heart and life of the individual, which comes when one is saved, does not come about by the emotional power of enticing words but by the simple, straightforward presentation of the gospel message in all its clarity and power. Attention must be focused on the Word, not on the proclaimer.

I AM:

“Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” (2^nd Corinthians 4:1-6)

Proclamation is not deceptive selling trying to gain followers at any cost, beloved, is is clear explanation of God’s Word centering on Jesus. The authority of any leader of a church derives from the leader’s own devotion to live our God’s Word, both word and deed. Leaders must plainly teach God’s truth rather than “human theories.” Teaching must be backed by noble character, and Christ is the example for all to follow.

The primary focus of all clergy is to see that Jesus Chris is the Lord of the church. They are to overcome the temptation to be self-promoting or self-serving. The Creator of light placed the light of salvation in our lives by introducing to Jesus,, who revealed God’s glory to all of us.

2ND THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praise him. H went o Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath Day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of he prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recover of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’” (Luke 4:14-21)

Jesus illustrated the simplicity of proclamation. He made His meaning clear so all people could clearly understand He tied His own ministry to the prophecy of Isaiah 61:1-3. The proclamation of the gospel should never be obscure, beloved, it must always ring with a clear and simple message of eternal truth. Jesus beautifully combined preaching and teaching. Proclamation includes content that teaches. It explains the meaning of God’s Word for the present audience; for proclamation leads to understanding, decision and commitment

Jesus’ ministry did not meet the Jewish leaders’ expectation, but it did meet God’s. The Spirit directed Jesus’ ministry and fulfilled Old Testament expectations of the Messiah. Jesus affirmed the Spirit’s role in His life by quoting Isaiah.