Feasting on God's Word (One Year Bible)

Titus 1:1-2:10 How are we to live? Sometimes, Lord, our journey through life can be very confusing. We don’t know what to think of it all. One person tells us one thing. Someone else tells us something very different. Lord, what are we to do? Help us to start listening to what You have to say to us. You know what’s best for us. Help us to trust You – to guide us safely through our, often, confusing journey. Help us to follow You in the way that You lead us. Titus 2:11-3:15 Lord, You are the God of grace. You are the God of glory. You come to us in grace. You’re preparing us for Your glory. You lift us out of our sin and shame. You lead us on to Your heavenly and eternal glory. Help us to live by Your grace – and to look forward to Your glory.

Titus 1:1-2:10   How are we to live? We are not to be ‘empty talkers’, people who ‘profess to know God’ and ‘deny Him by their deeds’(1:10,16). We must give no one the opportunity to ‘speak evil of God’s Word’. We must be ‘a model of good deeds’, showing ‘the beauty of the teachings about God our Saviour in everything we do’(2:5,7,10). When we live in a Christlike way, ‘those who oppose’ Christ and His Gospel will be ‘put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us’(2:8). This is how we are to live. How do we live? This is a question for all of us. It is a question which will make us feel uncomfortable. We don’t find it easy to look closely at the way we live our lives. We won’t get away with glossing over things. God calls us to pray, ‘Search me, O God... Cleanse me from every sin...’(Psalm 139:23-24; Mission Praise, 587).  Titus 2:11-3:15   We read in 2:11,13 of Christ’s coming in grace- ‘the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all peo...

“The Lord is righteous, yet I rebelled against His command” ( Lamentations 1:18 ). “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another” ( Titus 3:3 ). This is the story of our life without Christ, but it is not the full story. We must move on to Titus 3:4-7 : a great declaration of the love of God, the salvation of God and the glory of God. This is God, working powerfully in our lives.  Psalm 119:115 describes the transformation. No longer is it “I rebelled against His command.” Now, it is “Away from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commands of my God!” How does this transformation take place? “Uphold me, and I shall be delivered; I shall always have regard for Your decrees” ( Psalm 119:117 ).

“The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights” - These are the last words of Habakkuk ( Habakkuk 3:19 ). “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age ...” ( Titus 2:11-12 ). Where does the strength come from - the strength we need for rising from the depths of ungodliness to the heights of godliness? The strength comes from the Lord, the God of grace, the God of our salvation. The Proverbs speak of wisdom. True wisdom is to know that our real strength comes not from within ourselves, but from above, from the Lord.

The final chapter of Jeremiah speaks of the fall of Jerusalem , followed by captivity in Babylon . Difficulties face God’s people in every generation: “There are many rebellious people ... “ ( Titus 1:10 ). The Lord’s people must not be afraid to stand up for Him ( Titus 1:11 ). Whatever others may say and do, this is what we must say and do: “I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow Your righteous laws” ( Psalm 119:106 ).

Day 29 8 Jeremiah 52:1-34 ; Titus 1:1-16 ; Psalm 119:105-112 The final chapter of Jeremiah speaks of the fall of Jerusalem , followed by captivity in Babylon . Difficulties face God’s people in every generation: “There are many rebellious people ... “ ( Titus 1:10 ). The Lord’s people must not be afraid to stand up for Him ( Titus 1:11 ). Whatever others may say and do, this is what we must say and do: “I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow Your righteous laws” ( Psalm 119:106 ).  Day 299 Habakkuk 1:1-3:19 ; Titus 2:1-15 ; Proverbs 26:3-12 “The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights” - These are the last words of Habakkuk ( Habakkuk 3:19 ). “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age ...” ( Titus 2:11-12 ). ...