Jeremiah Ketchum
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact

A Final Reminder (Part 7)

1/23/2012

0 Comments

 
Reminder #7: Be Courteous
Remind them . . . to show perfect courtesy toward all people. (Titus 3:1–2, ESV)
To understand the force of Paul's reminder, we ourselves need to remember that Paul's writing to his apprentice Titus, who is ministering on the island of Crete. The Cretans had nasty reputation (we've even imported their name into the English language as a derogatory term). Even Paul himself knew they were a rough bunch (Titus 1:12).
You know, it's much easier to be nice to people who are already nice. True evidence of God's working our hearts is when we're courteous to people who don't deserve it -- people who are rude, harsh and otherwise unkind.
We're reminded of these virtues in couple other scriptures:
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. (Romans 12:14, ESV)
Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. (1 Peter 3:9, ESV)
Because of the nuance of the biblical language, this phrase in Titus 3:2 is translated several different ways:
“perfect courtesy” (RSV), “a consistently gentle disposition” (NEB), “every consideration” (NASB), “always … a gentle attitude” (TEV), “true humility” (NIV).
Whatever the exact translation, the meaning is clear. An attitude of gentle humility and grace should permeate all our interaction with all people. Tall order, huh? The entire Christian life is. Everything he asks us to do is impossible without the indwelling Holy Spirit who enables us to live up to these otherwise impossible standards.
Let's be wise and listen to God's reminders. He doesn't mind giving them and we shouldn't mind getting them.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    July 2022
    July 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    June 2019
    June 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    June 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    February 2009

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact