Titus 2:11-15
Have you ever heard someone say that there are two things you can never escape--death and taxes? As far as taxes are concerned, that statement is pretty accurate, but as for death...well, that may not be the case. In Titus 2:11-15 Paul tells us about the blessed hope all Christ-followers have--the hope that we may not have to experience death should Christ return for believers while we are living. What a wonderful possibility. But then Paul lets us know that while we wait for this blessed hope (maybe even pray for it), we should still be living fully for Christ, being "zealous for good works" (vs. 14).
So what's your plan to accomplish being "zealous for good works" going forward? How can we use and draw upon this blessed hope as a motivator to godly living in the here and now? Tami W.
To me this passage is, among other things, a reminder that I live my life today not to look for rewards or benefits of this life, but to do good works as I look forward to eternity with Jesus. Sure, we might get rewards or benefits from time to time, but whether they happen or not, my eyes need to be focused on Christ's appearing.
What struck me about this passage was the assurance and confidence in it - ending with, "Let no one disregard you". If I am seeking to do the good works God asks me to do, and because it is Him through me, then people should not help but take notice. I can be assured and confident when I am obedient to God.
Janice, for me the passage that struck me the most was the portion immediately before yours - "exhort and rebuke with all authority". Paul is just so awesome sometimes. He lays it right out for us!
HI TAMI
A GOD BLESSED 2011 NEW YEAR TO YOU, DR. KROLL AND THE ENTIRE BTTB TEAM AS WELL AS MY FELLOW POWERED BY 4 BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST.
THIS BLESSED HOPE OF NOT EXPERIENCING DEATH IS VERY INTERESTING AND COULD EASILY LEAD US TO ASK GOD TO COME FOR HIS CHURCH NOW. HOWEVER AFTER HEARING DR. KROLL'S TEACHINGS ON REVELATION I WOULD RATHER ASK GOD TO GIVE US MORE TIME SO THAT OTHERS CAN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT I HAVE HAD TO KNOW JESUS THE CHRIST AS LORD AND SAVIOR. I WOULD NOT WISH THE JUDGMENT OF GOD OUTLINED IN REVELATIONS ON ANY HUMAN BEING.
REGARDS IN CHRIST
CECIL
I love the power of His Word here! Verse 12 reminds me that there is power not only in the instruction it gives, but power to enable us to follow that instruction. And the more you do the Word of God, the more you do it!
I'm with you Cecil. I think we need to wait patiently til all who will be brought to Christ are. I read somewhere where it says not to pray for His coming. So I try not to do that. Although some days are harder then others. Once again in this lesson Christ is the deliverer. We ask Him and He completes a good work in us. How wonderful is that.
Greetings in the mighty name of our lord Jesus Christ, who was and is and is to come.
I hear what you guys (cecil and Janice) are saying that is why it is up to us as christians as verse 15 says to teach these things; the blessed hope of Jesus's second coming. So that everyone will have oppertunity will or can repent. still the bible says there are some who will still turn away from the truth, and there will be a time wen no man can work, that is for the lord. Personally i have to even keep myself in check each day, for jesus's return will be like a theif in the night. So in essence to experience this blessed hope we need to be evangelists and missionarys for christ until he returns.