Paul the Apostle (Titus 1:1)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9-30-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Paul the Apostle

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Titus 1:1

 

            Message of the verse:  “1 Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,”  (NAS95)  “This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ.  I have been sent to bring faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives.”

            This is the greeting from Paul to Titus, which goes on for the first three verses.  An interesting idea from the Matthew Henry Commentary on this verse about Paul helps me to understand why he was using his Roman name instead of his Jewish name Saul.  Henry says that when the Jews turned down the gospel message (see Acts 13:9,46-47) Saul then started to use Paul so he could better minister to the Gentiles. 

            Paul says that he is a bondservant of God, which is the only time that he uses this phrase in his letters.  A bondservant is a low title used of slaves in the Roman Empire.  It is not a low title being a bondservant of God however.  He then goes on to say he is an apostle of Jesus Christ for he had all of the qualifications of being an apostle because he to had seen the risen Lord.  He was an apostle to give out the good news to those chosen of God, and also to teach them the truth of the gospel, which he was doing.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  It surely makes sense that Paul had changed his name in order to be able to preach the gospel to the Gentiles in a more efficient way, for he had said in other letters that he would do all things in order to be able to preach the Word to them.  I need to do these kinds of things in order to tell others about Jesus Christ.  I need to remember that He is my first love, and that I am to obey Him in all that I do.  It is easy to get caught up in the things of the world and forget about the things of God.

 

The Word of God was full of wonderful teaching for me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I do not want to be fearful so that I can be available to do the things that the Lord calls me to do.

 

Memory verse for the week:  2Timothy 4:18

 

And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom.  To Him be glory forever and ever.  Amen!