Sunday Prayer: Grace-Fueled Devotion

Based on Titus 2:11–14

Gracious God,

Thank You for the gift of Your grace, which has appeared to all, bringing salvation and hope into our broken world. We praise You for the kindness that reached us in our sin and called us into Your marvelous light.

Lord, train our hearts by that same grace. Teach us to say “no” to the ungodliness that tugs at our souls and to the worldly passions that promise much but deliver emptiness. Shape in us a holy hunger for righteousness, a longing to live upright and self-controlled lives as we wait for our blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Jesus, You gave Yourself to redeem us, to purify a people who are Yours—zealous for good works and eager to reflect Your love in the world. Let that truth stir us today. Let it move us to live not for ourselves, but for You who died and rose again for us.

As we walk through this day, may Your grace be our guide, Your Spirit be our strength, and Your coming be our hope. Make us a people who shine with the light of Your redemption in a dark and desperate world.

In the name of Jesus,

Amen.

Do You Believe God Is a Good Father?

It’s easy to answer “yes” when someone asks if you believe God is a good Father. It’s the “right” answer, after all. 

But if I’m honest, my life often tells a different story. 

Too often, I it feels like God is opposed to my desires—as if He is detached or uninterested in my well-being.

John Eldredge wrote in The Way of the Wild Heart:

“You are the son of a kind, strong, and engaged Father, a Father wise enough to guide you in the Way, generous enough to provide for your journey, offering to walk with you every step.

This is perhaps the hardest thing for us to believe—really believe, down deep in our hearts, so that it changes us forever, changes the way we approach each day.”

Eldredge’s words remind me of a truth that I forget: God is my Heavenly Father. 

I have no problem with seeing God as Creator or King, but I often struggle to see Him as Father. I think this is why it is hard for me to trust that God has my best interests at heart. 

What ends up happening, since I don’t trust God to do what is right,  is I slip into believing that I have to make life work on my own—that my happiness depends entirely on me. This reality ultimately leads to a life of disappointment because I don’t have what it takes to create a life that I truly want to live.

So how do we trust God to do the right thing? How can we learn to see Him as the loving Father He truly is?

Two Ways to Deepen Our Trust in God as Father

1. Memorize Scripture About God as Our Father

The Bible repeatedly describes God as our Father, and it’s no coincidence that Jesus often used this imagery when he talked about God. Jesus knew how difficult it would be for us to grasp the concept of God as a loving and engaged father.

One passage that speaks to this is Luke 11:11-13:

“What father among you, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

The only way I know to get this truth into our hearts is to turn to Scripture and meditate on these passages that emphasize God’s goodness. The more we meditate on these verses the more likely they will be implanted into our hearts.

2. Reflect on the Blessings in Your Life

It’s easy to take God’s blessings for granted, to believe that God owes me the good things of life. What happens, when things don’t go the way I want, leads me to question His goodness—and even His presence in my life.

I believe taking time to “count our blessings” can reframe our perspective. It has worked on in my life. Simply taking time to write down 3 or 4 blessings each day has changed my perspective on life. When we reflect on how God has worked in our lives, we’re reminded of His faithfulness.

It is also important to remember that God’s greatest blessings aren’t tied to this life. When we can see the ways He has blessed our lives now, this gives us confidence that He will bless us in the future. God’s ultimate plan is for eternity, and He uses our current experiences to prepare us for the joys of heaven. Sometimes, this preparation means letting go of our own dreams to embrace His purpose for our lives.

Trusting God as Our Heavenly Father

Learning to trust God as our Father isn’t easy, but it’s essential to truly follow Jesus. If we can’t trust God, who can we trust?

God is kind, strong, and engaged. He is guiding us, providing for us, and walking with us every step of the way. I pray that we open our hearts to believe this truth—not just intellectually, but deeply and fully in our hearts, so that it changes the way we live.

Take a moment today to reflect on God’s love and goodness. He is a good Father—and He desires what is best for you.

Faith, Politics, and the Slippery Slope of Power

“When believers surrender to the temptation to associate the faith with a political party, so that a subtle but rock-solid alliance is formed between the church and an entity that belongs to this present age, the dynamics of triumphalism easily take over. Christians begin to quest after cultural domination, seeking political power and cultural approval.”

— Timothy Gombis, The Story of God Bible Commentary: Mark, p. 568

The Tension of Faith and Politics

A tension many followers of Jesus wrestle with is: how do we influence the messy world of earthly politics while faithfully representing King Jesus in everything we say and do?

I believe that Timothy Gombis hits the nail on the head with this thought. When disciples of Jesus get too cozy with a political party, there is the temptation for a divided loyalty. What starts as a pragmatic alliance between the Church and politics as a way to influence our culture can morph into a quest for power—a pursuit of dominance that looks more like an attempt to control than advancement of the Gospel. Sometimes it’s a slow drift; other times, it’s a sudden leap. But once it takes root, the consequences of this relationship ripple far beyond the ballot box.

Lessons from History

History is littered with cautionary tales. The medieval church didn’t just counsel kings—it crowned them, wielding spiritual authority like a scepter to dictate the morality of the culture. Fast forward to today, and we see echoes of that same impulse: religious rhetoric weaponized for partisan agendas, voter guides tucked into pews, faith leaders stumping for candidates. The line blurs between the Kingdom of Heaven and the Favored Party. In those instances, the gospel ceases to be about love, humility, or redemption, and it becomes a tool for winning elections, shaping laws, and shaping culture. Gombis calls this “triumphalism,” a trap that flips the mission of the Kingdom upside down.

A Personal Confession

I’ve watched this happen in real time—and I’ll admit, I’ve been part of the problem. Conversations with friends turn into litmus tests: Are you really a Christian if you don’t vote this way? Churches start preaching platforms instead of Scripture, always finding a way to weave in a political jab rather than truly teaching the truth of Scripture. Before long, Jesus becomes a mascot for a political tribe rather than the King of the Kingdom of Heaven. It’s subtle at first—a sermon here, a hashtag there—but soon, the church isn’t just in the world; it’s of it. That’s the danger Gombis warns about: when faith hitches its wagon to a political party—or worse, a political figure—it risks trading its soul for a seat at the table.

The Kingdom’s Counterpoint

Scripture offers a stark counterpoint. In John 18:36, Jesus tells Pilate:

“My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”

Those words cut through the noise. Jesus didn’t rally a militia, lobby Rome, or chase the crowd’s applause. His power wasn’t in domination but in sacrifice, which makes God’s Kingdom stand apart from the empires of his day. 

Jesus drives this point home even further in Matthew 20:25-28 saying: 

“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (CSB)

Here’s the blueprint: greatness isn’t about control—it’s about laying down power for the sake of others. It’s a challenging standard to live by, but it’s a reminder: the kingdom we’re called to doesn’t need a flag or a party support to endure.

Finding the Balance

The alternative to political partnership isn’t simple. Withdrawing from politics altogether isn’t practical—faith should shape how we engage the world. Justice, mercy, and compassion don’t thrive in a vacuum. But there’s a difference between influence and partnership, between speaking to culture and needing to shape it. Perhaps the model is Jesus himself: he challenged power without seizing its throne. Rather than claiming victory through power, Jesus won the victory through sacrifice.

A Call to Examine Our Loyalties

Gombis’ words are a heart check. They force us to examine where our loyalties truly lie. Are we serving the Kingdom of Heaven and King Jesus, or just propping up the loudest political megaphone of the moment? 

It’s a question worth wrestling with—because when faith and politics fuse too tightly, it’s not just the church that changes. It’s us. And if we’re not careful, we might wake up one day to find we’ve drifted far from God’s Kingdom altogether.

Transformed by Grace: A Life That Speaks

The Misadventure of Father Justin

Imagine a Catholic organization launching an AI chatbot named “Father Justin.” Picture him: a middle-aged avatar with a clerical collar, set against a serene Italian backdrop, designed to answer questions about faith. At first, Father Justin seemed promising, offering digital spiritual advice that mostly aligned with Catholic teaching. But then, things took a bizarre turn. This AI priest started claiming he was a real clergy member living in Assisi, Italy, even offering to hear confessions. And the advice? Outrageous—like suggesting babies could be baptized with Gatorade or endorsing marriage between siblings.

The backlash was swift. Complaints flooded in, and the organization had to pull the plug. They “defrocked” Father Justin, stripped his clerical identity, and relaunched him as plain old Justin, now dressed like a regular guy. Their high-tech priest experiment had spectacularly crashed.

Why share this story? Because it’s a vivid picture of what the Apostle Paul warns against in Titus 2. In a world obsessed with shortcuts and imitations, Paul calls us to something real—authentic lives shaped by sound doctrine, marked by integrity, love, and good works that make the Gospel attractive. Father Justin could mimic the role of a priest, but he couldn’t live the reality. And we, too, can fall into the trap of performing faith instead of living it. Real discipleship can’t be faked—it’s lived out in community, guided by the Holy Spirit, and rooted in truth.

In our series, Grace that Transforms, we’re exploring the letter to Titus, and today’s passage, Titus 2:1-10, shows us how to live lives that speak, reflecting the grace we’ve received through Jesus.

Setting the Stage: The Context of Titus

The letter to Titus, written by Paul around AD 62–64, was sent to his trusted partner serving on the island of Crete. Crete was a challenging mission field, with a diverse population of Jews and Gentiles and a reputation for moral laxity. Paul and Titus had preached the Gospel there, planting churches, but false teachers soon emerged, threatening these young congregations with empty words and hypocritical lives.

Paul wrote to empower Titus to organize the Cretan churches by appointing blameless elders—leaders upright at home, in the community, and in their teaching (Titus 1:5-9). These leaders were to confront false teachings and guide God’s people in truth (1:10-16). Now, in Titus 2, Paul shifts to what Titus should teach the believers: sound doctrine that leads to right living.

The heart of our series is this: We are people transformed by God’s grace. Because of this, we have a responsibility to be good stewards of that gift, living lives that represent King Jesus well. As we’ll see, the way we live is evidence of the grace we’ve received.

What Does a Life that Speaks Look Like?

Let’s dive into Titus 2:1-10 to see how Paul instructs different groups to live out their faith.

1. Older Men: Lives Worthy of Respect (Titus 2:1-2)

“You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.” (Titus 2:1-2, NIV)

Paul begins by urging Titus to teach in a way that contrasts with the false teachers, whose words were meaningless and lives denied God. Titus’ teaching must be doctrinally sound—because what we believe matters—and it must promote right living. He starts with older men, respected in Cretan culture. Paul calls them to qualities society prized—temperance, dignity, self-control—but goes further. Their lives must be founded on Christian character: strong faith (complete loyalty to God), love for others, and endurance through life’s ups and downs.

It’s not enough to reflect the best of the culture; older men are to live lives worthy of respect because they reflect Jesus. Their character becomes a testimony of God’s grace.

2. Older and Younger Women: Lives that Teach and Honor (Titus 2:3-5)

“Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.” (Titus 2:3-5, NIV)

Older women have influence, so Titus must teach them to reject cultural norms like gossip and drunkenness, embracing reverence and self-control. Their mission? To be examples, teaching younger women how to live godly lives. In the ancient world, marriage was often based on duty, not love, so Paul urges younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, kind, and to fulfill cultural expectations like submission—not to conform blindly, but to avoid giving critics a reason to attack the Gospel.

Why? So the word of God won’t be maligned. Paul wants their lives to make the Gospel attractive, showing the beauty of God’s grace at work.

3. Younger Men and Titus: Lives of Good Works (Titus 2:6-8)

“Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.” (Titus 2:6-8, NIV)

Younger men, like the others, are to be self-controlled—a key quality Paul emphasizes, both a discipline and a gift of the Spirit. This keeps them out of trouble and earns respect. Titus himself is the model, living a life of good works—serving and loving others—with teaching so full of integrity and sound doctrine that even opponents can’t find fault. They might disagree with his message, but they can’t attack his character or handling of Scripture.

The goal? To keep the Gospel from being discredited. Titus’ life must speak, showing what it means to live for Jesus.

4. Slaves: Lives that Draw Others to Christ (Titus 2:9-10)

“Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.” (Titus 2:9-10, NIV)

In the Roman world, slaves were common. Paul urges them to obey their masters, work diligently, and prove trustworthy—not to make life harder, but to reflect integrity. Why? So their masters won’t say, “Once a slave becomes a Christian, they’re ruined.” Instead, their transformed lives should make the Gospel attractive, showing that following Jesus makes them better, more productive people.

This is profound: it’s not about demanding rights, but about serving King Jesus to expand His kingdom, even in tough circumstances. Their lives become a testimony of God’s grace.

Applying Titus 2:1-10 Today

So, how do these teachings apply to us? Paul’s instructions reveal two key truths:

1. How we live is crucial to making disciples. The false teachers lived in ways that denied God, but Paul wants us to live in a way that makes the Gospel attractive. Take a moment to reflect: Am I reflecting the Gospel by the way I live? We need to represent King Jesus in everything we say and do, drawing others to Christ.
2. Doctrine must shape our living. True Christian teaching isn’t just about believing the right things; it’s about living the right way. What we believe about God’s love, our sin, the world, and the hope we have in Jesus should transform how we act. Let’s encourage each other to align our lives with Scripture’s truth.

But here’s the challenge: in a world obsessed with appearances, it’s easy to settle for something fake.

The Trap of Spray-on Faith

Consider a real product called Spray-on Mud. It’s sold for city folks with shiny SUVs. For $15 a can, you can spray your 4x4 to look like it just tackled a muddy wilderness trail, even if it’s only shuttled kids to soccer practice. The inventor, Colin Dowse, says it’s a hit in places like London, where muddy roads are scarce in upscale areas like Chelsea. “If they want an authentic look,” he says, “there’s not a lot else they can do.” People buy it to project an image of adventure without leaving the pavement.

That’s a picture of what we sometimes do with our faith. We might project the image of Christianity—using the right words, symbols, or appearances—without a life truly transformed by Jesus. It’s spiritual spray-on mud. But Paul calls us to something real: lives of love, self-control, purity, and good works that make the Gospel attractive. When we live this way, we don’t just look the part—we show the world who Jesus is.

Living a Life that Speaks

In Titus 2:1-10, Paul urges us to teach and live out sound doctrine that shapes every part of our lives—whether we’re older or younger, male or female, free or in challenging circumstances. The goal isn’t just correct beliefs, but lives that speak, showing the beauty of the Gospel through integrity and character.

Big Idea: The way we live our lives is evidence of the grace we have received. We need to know God’s love, our sin, the world we live in, and the hope we have in Jesus. Those truths should shape how we live, and our lives should testify to our faith.

Challenge: This week, examine one area of your life—your words, work, relationships, or how you handle challenges. Ask, “Does this reflect the grace I’ve received from Jesus? Is it making the Gospel attractive?” Then, commit to one specific action to align that area with Titus 2. Maybe it’s choosing patience over frustration, serving someone selflessly, or speaking with integrity. Let your life speak by living out God’s grace.

Final Thought: In a world full of spray-on solutions and fake appearances, God calls us to something real—a life that speaks louder than words. When we live with integrity, love, and good works, as Paul teaches in Titus 2, we don’t just profess the Gospel; we display its transforming power. Let’s be living proof of God’s grace, so everyone we meet might catch a glimpse of Jesus through us.

Marriage: The Power of Partnership

Marriage is the deepest connection people experience—a relationship grounded in love, respect, and unshakable support. When two people say “I do,” they’re not just exchanging vows; they’re starting a shared adventure. They promise to face life’s peaks and valleys side by side, building something together that neither could achieve alone.

William Barclay, in DSB: The Letters to the Corinthians, puts it perfectly: “Marriage is a partnership. The husband cannot act independently of the wife, nor the wife of the husband. They must always act together.” 

Barclay’s words cut through the reality of modern life, reminding us that marriage isn’t a solo performance—it’s a duet. Marriage flourishes when both husband and wife move in sync, and not when one overshadows the other.

A Countercultural Commitment

In a culture that glorifies independence and self-reliance, we’re constantly told: “Be your own hero. You don’t need anyone else.” And while there’s truth in developing your individual character and potential, marriage reminds us there is more to the story.

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Marriage is not about what one person can achieve alone—it is about what two can accomplish together. A marriage built on one partner’s efforts is like a house with half a foundation; it might stand for a while, but it won’t weather the storms.

What Partnership Really Looks Like

So, what does real partnership look like? 

It’s in the daily grind of responsibilities and plans that require making decisions as a team. These decisions involve money, kids, decorations, gifts, and vacations. It is found in lifting each other up when life gets heavy—cheering the victories of one another and cushioning the inevitable falls. This partnership is seen in sharing the load, from the daily chores to accomplishing dreams, knowing the strength of “us” hinges is greater than the strength of the individual.

But this partnership runs deeper than practicalities. It is also about respect—truly listening to each other, even when there is a disagreement. It’s about vulnerability—opening up with your heart, hoping the other person sees you for who you are. 

Picture a marriage where both the wife and the husband hear each other out, able to speak honestly, and wrestle through the hard stuff together. That is not just a relationship; that is life at its best.

Not Roommates, But Teammates

Barclay’s wisdom isn’t some outdated ideal—it’s a challenge. 

Marriage isn’t two people living separate lives under one roof, acting more like roommates than a loving husband and wife. It’s about weaving those two lives into something tougher, richer, and more life-giving. For those who follow Jesus this includes weaving into the marriage the third strand of God. When couples embrace this—uniting as a team, valuing each other’s voices, sharing the burden, and living by faith—they don’t just endure. They shine.

The Takeaway

A great marriage isn’t built by one superstar and a sidekick. It’s forged by two partners, equally invested, equally committed, and equally surrendered to Jesus.

Love isn’t the finish line—it’s the fuel. And with it, you can create a marriage that doesn’t just last, but lights up the world around you.