Personal Items (Titus 3:12-13)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11-10-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Personal items

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Titus 3:12-13

            Message of the verse:  “12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.  13 Diligently help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way so that nothing is lacking for them.”  (NAS95)  “I am planning to send either Artemas or Tychicus to you.  As soon as on of them arrives, do your best to meet me at Nicopolis as quickly as you can, for I have decided to stay there for the winter.  Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos with their trip.  See that they are given everything they need.”  (NLT)

            In this closing section Paul speaks of personal items to Titus.  He mentions names and places and also tells Titus to come and see him.  The first person, Artemas, there is nothing else written about him, however Paul does seem to trust him.  Tychicus was mentioned before and probably carried Paul’s letter to the Church of the Colossian and also to the Church at Ephesus.  Paul mentions the city of Nicopolis and says that he would like to winter there.  This city was probably in the southern part of Greece, so it would be a good place to spend the winter.  In verse fourteen Paul mentions a lawyer named Zenas and there is nothing else known about him.  He then mentions Apollos and he was a friend of Paul’s who is mentioned in Acts 18:24-28 where Paul explained the full message of the Gospel to him.  He had only heard the preaching of John the Baptist.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I believe that these verses were put in this letter to show that it is good to have friends and to be able to count on these friends when you need someone to count on.

 

The Word of God was refreshing to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I want to trust the Lord with the IBS that he has allowed me to have.  There are far to many times when I do not allow God to show me what good can come out of this seemingly bad health problem.  He is teaching and I must be listening to His teachings.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Romans 11:33-35:  Oh, the debt of the riches both of the wisdom and Knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!  For who has known the mind of the LORD?  Or who has become His counselor?  Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him.