Titus. The Washing of Rebirth
Devotion by Graeme Harrison)
PRAYER:
Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ,
for all the benefits thou hast given me,
for all the pains and insults thou hast borne for me.
O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother,
may I know thee more clearly,
love thee more dearly,
and follow thee more nearly, day by day.
Amen.
Richard of Chichester
Read:
Titus 3:3-7. Read this 3 times, each time asking God’s help and thinking about those words or phrases that leap out at you.
3At 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. 4But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, 5he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour, 7so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:3-7 NIV)
Thought for the Day:
Many images are used to show people what we mean by salvation. This is an intriguing one, “the washing of rebirth”. What does this say about God? What does it say about us?
Sit with the image and have a conversation with God.
Photo by Christian Bowen on Unsplash
Titus. Salvation
Devotion by Graeme Harrison)
PRAYER:
Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
Forgive our foolish ways.
Reclothe us in our rightful minds,
In purer lives thy service find
In deeper reverence praise,
In deeper reverence praise.
Breathe through the heats of our desires
Thy coolness and thy balm;
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
Speak through the earthquake, wind and fire,
O still small voice of calm,
O still small voice of calm.
John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892) (Book of a Thousand Prayers)
Read:
Titus 2:1-14. Read this 3 times, each time asking God’s help and thinking about those words or phrases that leap out at you.
You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. 2Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
3Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
6Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
9Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Saviour attractive.
11For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
(Titus 2:1-14 NIV)
Thought for the Day:
So why have Titus readings at Christmas? Our passage talks about salvation and a Saviour. The letter to Titus makes it pretty blunt what salvation is and what we are being saved from. Paul is not writing to a church of academics and philosophers, but straightforward people who need you to speak in straightforward language. Paul’s blunt honest guidance would have been readily understood and immensely practical from their point of view.
I once attended another Christian community where the youth pastor got up and told them in no uncertain language that they had to stop doing drugs and keep away from violence and crime. No one was in any doubt about what salvation was when he was finished. But his blunt honesty enabled them to choose.
I wonder if people have clarity about salvation when we speak? Are you clear?
Photo by Jason Betz on Unsplash
Titus. A Big Ask
Devotion by Graeme Harrison)
PRAYER:
Lord, I am yours, I was born for you;
What is your will for me?
Let me be rich or beggared
Exulting or lamenting
Comforted or lonely;
Since I am yours, yours only,
What is your will for me?
St Teresa of Avila(1552-15820 (Book of a Thousand Prayers)
Read:
Titus 1:1-12. Read this 3 times, each time asking God’s help and thinking about those words or phrases that leap out at you.
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— 2in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, 3and which now at his appointed season he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Saviour,
4To Titus, my true son in our common faith:
Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.
5The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. 6An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. 7Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. 8Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. 9He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
10For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group. 11They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain. 12One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.”
(Titus 1:1-12 NIV)
Thought for the Day:
Every year the letter of Paul to his apprentice Titus is wheeled out during the Christmas readings. You would not have noticed it because it is lost amongst shepherds, angels and mangers. But this pastoral letter is a tough one and it deals with Titus’ tough assignment. He is being asked to establish a leadership team in a church of newly converted Christians. On top of that, he must deal with the fact that the social norms on Crete are pretty low. Where else would you would it be hard to find an Elder because the requirements were “not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain”?
I get the impression that Paul did not enjoy living among the Cretan community. He has sent Titus to finish the job of stabilizing the new church and helping it navigate what it means to be Christian in this community.
At least for Titus it was clear what a change God makes in our lives when Christ becomes our Lord in ‘Bogun Central’. Is it as clear to you how Christ makes you different to your surrounding culture?
Photo by Eric Prouzet on Unsplash
“I Will Now Arise”
Psalm 12:1-5 (NIV)
(Devotion by Vic Heyward)
For the director of music. According to sheminith. A psalm of David.
1 Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore;
those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
2 Everyone lies to their neighbour;
they flatter with their lips
but harbor deception in their hearts.
3 May the Lord silence all flattering lips
and every boastful tongue—
4 those who say,
“By our tongues we will prevail;
our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”
5 “Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan,
I will now arise,” says the Lord.
“I will protect them from those who malign them.”
Today’s reflection is from the book; “Common Prayer; Liturgy for ordinary Radicals”
“In 1980 Maura Clarke, Ita Ford, Dorothy Kazel and Jean Donovan were murdered by Officers of the Salvadoran military. Missionaries serving among the poor during El Salvador’s civil war, these women knew, as Ita Ford said “one who is committed to the poor must risk the same fate as the poor”. Their deaths effected the North American church deeply, galvanising opposition to US support for the Salvadoran government’s repression of its people.”
As we reflect on the hardship of the poor in today’s global community highlighted by the traumatic event in El Salvador in 1980, may we understand more deeply David’s Psalm. Ita Ford also commented the reason why so many people were prepared to make a stand at risk of death, was they found meaning to live, to sacrifice, to struggle, to seek justice even when confronted with death.
Our Father
Lord, there are times when witnessing another person’s commitment that I come to realise my own lack of faith. May you open my eyes to learn from the other, stranger, unlikely, those who do faith different from me. Hold me to account O Lord that I may be teachable and learn what it means to be committed to you. Amen
Closing Doxology
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you;
May he guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm;
May he bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders he has shown you;
May he bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors
Matthew 15:29-37 (NIV)
(Devotion by Vic Heyward)
Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand
29 Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. 30 Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. 31 The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.
32 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”
33 His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?”
34 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.
“Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”
35 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. 37 They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
A couple of thoughts to take away from today’s text
· Jesus had this wonderful way to meet people in the ordinary situations bring a message of hope, possibility and healing. To quote a lovely Irish Catholic reflection I read recently “He had compassion for people with the different hungers in their lives”. As Jesus did, he saw beyond the practical challenges of his disciples of finding food in an isolated location, who would have thought that the little they had would was enough for Jesus… God who meets us at our point of need and it’s enough!
· Something about seeing an opportunity not the problem. We so easily get caught in the small or little that we have and forget to offer it, forget that our Lord can do great things with what we have
· Our God is present here and now – what are you hungry for? Seek God to help you recognise it and act on it
Philippians. Dwell on Goodness
Devotion by Graeme Harrison)
PRAYER:
God our Father,
Gifts without measure flow from your goodness to bring us peace.
Our life is your gift,
Guide our life’s journey,
For only your love makes us whole.
The Roman Missal (Book of a Thousand Prayers)
Read:
Philippians 4:8-9. Read this 3 times, each time asking God’s help and thinking about those words or phrases that leap out at you.
8Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
(Philippians 4:8-9 NIV)
Thought for the Day:
Paul is insisting that we look for the good in people; all people. He is putting it in the context of looking for good examples to model your own behaviour on. It is not just looking for positivity in the world so that you might feel better about life. No, it is one step further. It is about you becoming a positive influence for good in the world. How? Look at others and study their good qualities and what it is you admire about them. Then go and do likewise.
For many people this is much easier than trying to live out abstract ideals and making it up as you go. Studying human examples seems closer to home. Which is why Paul recommends it.
Have a try today. Who do you see before you today? What do you admire about them and why?
May the Spirit let you see God’s handiwork in others.
Photo by Andrea Tummons on Unsplash
Philippians. Rejoice
Devotion by Graeme Harrison)
PRAYER:
O Lord,
Open our eyes to your Presence
Open our minds to your grace
Open our lips to your praises
Open our hearts to your love
Open our lives to your healing
And be found among us.
David Adam (Book of a Thousand Prayers)
Read:
Philippians 4:4-7 Read this 3 times, each time asking God’s help and thinking about those words or phrases that leap out at you.
4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:4-7 NIV)
Thought for the Day:
I once heard it said that we human beings were actually made for joy. And that when we find God we find our joy again. Joyless religion is the same as no religion at all.
May you find joy in Christ today. Sit still and awhile with Christ.
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
Philippians. Where is your Mind?
Devotion by Graeme Harrison)
PRAYER:
O God, you are both the light and the guide of those who put their trust in you.
Grant us in all our doubts and uncertainties the grace to ask what you would have us do;
The Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices,
And that in your light we may see light;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
William Bright, C19th (Book of a Thousand Prayers)
Read:
Philippians 3:17-21 Read this 3 times, each time asking God’s help and thinking about those words or phrases that leap out at you.
17Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
(Philippians 3:17-21 NIV)
Thought for the Day:
Strangely, it is possible that when Paul is referring to “enemies of the cross” he is talking about some Church leaders like Jesus did in Mt 7:15-23. Paul mentions these people while he is talking about modelling the Christian lifestyle as a leader in the church. The conclusion we can draw from this is that what you actually live for and what you say you live for, can be two very different things. In your own life this can be so as well.
Take some time to reflect on what you actually get excited about in life. What does this reveal to you? The answer will bring joy and frustration. Bring both to God in a conversation.
Photo by R.D. Smith on Unsplash
Philippians. Pressing on …
Devotion by Graeme Harrison)
PRAYER:
Christ our Guide,
stay with us on our pilgrimage through life:
When we falter, encourage us,
When we stumble, steady us,
And when we fall pick us up.
Help us to become, step by step, more truly ourselves,
And remind us that you have travelled this way before us.
Angela Ashwin (Book of a Thousand Prayers, p 69)
Read:
Philippians 3:7-9 Read this 3 times, each time asking God’s help and thinking about those words or phrases that leap out at you.
7But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 3:7-14 NIV)
Thought for the Day:
“I press on toward the goal to win the prize ...” What a way to experience the Christian life. Energy, struggle, persistence, and the prize that awaits. How Paul depicts his experience of Christian faith is invigorating. He knows where he is in life and he really knows where he wants to get to. Do you know what he is talking about?
Photo by Maarten van den Heuvel on Unsplash