Text: Titus 2:1-8
Title: Speaking Up
Thoughts:
Since we’re on the subject of personal hygiene this week, I thought I’d throw one more enticing story in. A few years back I was meeting with someone to discuss some ministry expansion ideas. It so happened that the two individuals I was meeting with, no one related to our church, were both older than myself. As we sat meeting over breakfast, one of the individual’s allergies flared up. And, with the allergies came hana butter, which in Hawaii means “nose butter” or the affectionate nasal goo that produces boogers. Thankfully, I was finished with my “Two eggs and things”!
As is typically the case, there were remnants that remained on the outer portion of her nose for the rest of our meeting time. It was a bit uncomfortable and embarassing. But who wants to tell a lady the age of your grandmother that she has a remnant remaining on her face?!
Titus addressing the spiritual conditions of the Cretan elders was probably as appealing as was telling this elderly lady that she had da kine on her face. In his case, Titus was dealing with spiritual issues of people who were much older than himself. I can’t imagine that there would be any comfort in this. Nevertheless, the apostle Paul emphatically calls the minister of God to his position as a leader in the church. Indeed, it was his responsibility to lead, even the elders.
At times it is difficult for us to confront core spiritual hygiene with those who should know better. Better yet, it is difficult for us to tell our friends that they have something on their face. Yet, if we were polled, the large majority would want to know that we had something that needed to be corrected in our hygiene, rather than walking around looking unkept. Such should be the case for us spiritually, we should both be ready to lovingly accept spiritual direction and correction, as well as receive it. But it’s not always that simple.
Why does hygiene have to be so persnickety?!
PS: I never told the lady she had da kine on her face.
Application:
Why do you think we struggle to speak up in the lives of others?
How do you respond when others do speak up about issues in your life?
What might people be noticing about your spiritual hygiene right now, but just aren’t saying anything?
Prayer:
Father,
Thank You for the spiritual and practical direction of Scripture. Truly, You are calling us all higher in You. Looking back over my life, I have come to appreciate those Titus’ who were willing to speak up concerning some spiritual blind spots in my life. I am the better for it. Yet, I struggle with speaking up in the lives of others, especially when they are my elders. Help me to become confident to speak up for healthy doctrine. May Your body become all that You desire it to be!
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
