Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Titus 2:1-8.

 

“¹  But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.  ² Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.

 

³ Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, ⁴ so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, ⁵ to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.

 

⁶ Likewise urge the young men to be sensible;  ⁷ in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, ⁸ sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.”  Titus 2:1-8.

 

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Purity in doctrine is not an excuse for us to be weird.  We must be sound in doctrine and be sensible and good.

We are not to be “nutty professors” of theology.  Possessing the right doctrine is not an excuse for us to be eccentric and offensive.  We should not be “hot and cold”.  Rather, we should be “temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance”.  Verse 2.

Good practical behavior is emphasized in today’s Scripture.  We are to love our family and be workers at home.  We are to be kind and teach what is good.  We should not be “malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine”.  Verses 3 and 4. 

In one sense, there does not need to be a balance in the sense that there is opposing forces between being sound in doctrine and being sensible and good that need to be balanced.  They are not opposing forces.  Being truly sound in doctrine will show itself to be sensible and good.  “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.  And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”  James 3:17-18. 

In another sense, there does need to be balance in the sense that there is only so much we can do.  We don’t have time to do everything, but we should prioritize and try to do as much as we can.  As a metaphor, we don’t rest on our natural beauty (doctrine).  We also try to be as attractive as we can be in additional different ways.  We are well-groomed.  We are well-dressed.  We have good manners.  But, so to speak, we don’t spend the whole day in the beauty parlor.  We don’t spend the whole day reading the Bible.  We also do a good job at the office.  We also take good care of our family at home.  We also do good deeds.  

In summary, “in all things”, we are sound and sensible:  “so that the word of God will not be dishonored” (verse 5) and “so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.” (verse 8).