“As God’s manager,… be… hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled, holding to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching and to refute those who contradict it” (Titus 1:7-9, HCSB).
Yesterday we looked at how we are to “[hold] to the faithful message as taught.” We are to know the Word so we can share the Word, and the frightening truth is that most Christians don’t know the Scriptures.
So let’s bring it down to each one of us: if you have the only Bible in the world and it is suddenly taken away from you, how much of God’s Word is “treasured… in [your] heart” (Psalm 119:11)? How much would you be able to recall to sustain yourself, encourage others and lead new people to Jesus?
Paul goes on to tell Titus that there are two major reasons for “holding to the faithful message as taught.” One is “so that [we] will be able… to encourage with sound teaching?” How “sound” is your teaching? How often do you teach? Whether negatively or positively, every aspect of our lives teaches other people what Christ really means to us, what kind of a difference He has made in our lives.
“But,” you say, “I don’t know that much of the Bible, so I’m not comfortable talking about Scripture.” Honey-lamb, get in the Word so that you CAN be comfortable! Meanwhile, ask the Holy Spirit to give you that desire to study and learn more of His Message. And ask Him for boldness to live in such a way that people will want to know what makes you different.
Yes, you need to know as much about the Word of God as you can possibly learn. But that kind of learning will never be ended until we reach heaven and completely understand what we have been given, “the mind of Christ” (I Corinthians 2:16). The greatest pastors, the greatest Christians walking this planet, continually study and learn and grow in His likeness. We are to do likewise.
A part of that growth is through sharing what He’s taught us. Don’t be ashamed to witness about what Christ has done for you, and don’t be hesitant to say, “I don’t know, but I’ll sure find out and get back to you.” Satan thoroughly enjoys prodding a believer to feel incapable and incompetent to share the Good News. Don’t give him that victory in your life – share from the heart and freely admit that you’re a long way from having all the answers. Just be ready to tell them you know the One Answer that matters most of all!
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