In an era where we have so many food choices, there are just as many people who choose to remain stuck – yes, right where they are, immovable and certainly inflexible. These precious souls are determined to not be influenced nor persuaded by anything that may challenge their palates or their habits. They love their routine way of eating, and nothing will convince them otherwise.
For those of us more on the adventuresome side of the spectrum, variety entices us to explore and enlarge our worlds. I’ve heard it said, “I’ll try anything once.” These folks tend to bend and flex with greater ease when it comes to not only eating out at restaurants, but in welcoming the diversity of other cultures.
When it comes to the digestion of information that is foreign or unfamiliar, it goes without saying that caution can be a guardrail for safe traveling. We must exercise wisdom, discernment, and discretion in unknown territory. To soak up everything we hear or read could be potentially dangerous to our health – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
My suggestion for us today is to seriously consider what we are consuming as spiritual doctrine.
Let’s visit a relationship between the Apostle Paul and his ‘son in the faith,’ Titus.
But as for you, communicate the behavior that goes with sound teaching. Titus 2:1 NET
The instruction given to Titus from Paul, his mentor, was to teach and model the behavior that reflects the doctrine of Jesus Christ. Essentially, Titus was tasked with a show-and-tell assignment.
Titus, being born Greek and a Gentile, this was likely a task that took on many forms of communication. Titus had to prove to the Jewish community of believers and observing Gentiles that your beliefs should produce works of faith that are congruent. There should be no double-standards of lifestyles. Your testimony of faith should be lived out and evident in your lifestyle.
So, let’s examine this for ourselves today. Have we digested a doctrine that is aligned with Jesus Christ? Is feasting on the pure Word of GOD a daily way of life that it yields proof of who we say we are and more of Who we say we follow? Are we truly living out our professed testimony ~ even if we don’t utter a word, to the point that an unbelieving world would clearly see that there is a stark contrast between the way we think, believe and live against the backdrop of chaos and death?
Or are the silent onlookers front row to a church living sideways, teaching and preaching one way and living another?
If we are digesting a little bit of human philosophy from the world, and mixing it with a little bit of gospel from Jesus, we are certain to suffer from a half-heartedness that will result in destructive internal conflict. This level of heartburn would take us off the charts. Our inner man will be at war with GOD and there will be no peace. The resulting indigestion will be manifested in the double-life that we live.
It is my prayer today, Friend, that we take a close look at what we are subscribing to when it comes to Biblical doctrine.
15 Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately. 2 Timothy 2:15 NET
Don’t simply go with the crowd because it’s comfortable and familiar. Do your own personal homework ~ investigate what you read, research the Biblical commentaries, seek godly counsel and by all means, pray about the printed words that come across your eyes and the spoken words found on social media platforms. Ask the Holy Spirit for discernment and He will show you.
I love you to Heaven and Back, Girlfriend ~
LindaRJohnson, TitusTwo Visionary
Titus Two 