“Showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior”
Titus 2:10
Our actions, our speech, our reactions should adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. They should be outward evidence that what we believe—what Christ has proclaimed and Scripture reveals—is true and beautiful and life-changing.
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” Titus 2:11-14
The beauty of this doctrine, detailing what God has done for us and that He is at work within us, is displayed in the lives of those whom Jesus has redeemed. The verses prior (Titus 2:1-10) outline some of the practical applications, giving a glimpse of the impact in our daily lives.
We are reverent to God in our behavior, remembering always His holiness and majesty. We are sound in faith, believing our God is who He says He is and He will do as He has said. We are sound in love and in steadfastness. We do not slander. We do not turn to alcohol or other things to dull our senses, numb our difficulties, or relax prudent inhibitions. We teach what is good, that those coming behind us will be trained in what it means to walk in the light of the Lord.
We are self-controlled. We are pure, seeing the beauty and value and importance of purity—of heart, of body, of mind—in the midst of a world that has forgotten. We are hard-working, committed to bringing God glory and working as for Him, not for the accolades of men. We are kind. We submit to one another out of reverence for Christ, seeking to “outdo one another in showing honor” (Romans 12:10). In our teaching, in all things, we show integrity, dignity, and sound speech.
These are the characteristics to which we are called. These show faith, obedience, humility, and a love for our God that is not merely a surface reverence.
It is a high calling. And one we will fail at, likely much more often than we want to admit. But let us always set our eyes on Christ and seek to bring glory and honor to God our Savior. May we not allow past failures or intimidating circumstances to pull us away—may our faith be strong enough to persevere, to keep walking this narrow path, knowing that we do so in the power and grace of God. And He will faithfully see us all the way through, perfectly completing His work in us to present us blameless before His throne with great joy.
“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus…But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord” Philippians 3:12-14, 20-21, 4:1
In Pleasant Places 