Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. A high mountain range crosses from west to east, creating beautiful valleys, fertile plateaus, and interesting caves and gorges.
Titus 1 (English Standard Version)
Greeting
1Paul, a servant of God
Of all the titles Paul could use, he first chose “bondservant of God.” If Paul had a modern day business card, that would be his title on the card.
Significantly, when Paul used the term bondservant, he chose the ancient Greek word doulos. This word not only designated a low slave (one Greek scholar called it “the most abject, servile term in use among the Greeks for a slave”), it was also the word for a slave by choice.
–David Guzik
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and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3and at the proper time manifested in his word
Galatians 4:4 (New King James Version)
But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son.
Christianity came into the world at a time when it was uniquely possible for its message to spread rapidly. Greek was the common language, the language of trade, business, and literature. There were virtually no frontiers because of the vast nature of the Roman Empire. Travel was comparatively easy. It was slow, but relatively safe because of the security that the Roman Empire brought to roads and sea routes. The world was largely at peace under the pax Romana. Due to the Jewish dispersion throughout the ancient world, the world was curiously conscious of its need for a messiah and savior.
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through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;
4To Titus, my true child in a common faith:
Though we read nothing about Titus in Acts, we still know something of his character and personality.
- Titus was a true son in our common faith (Titus 1:4).
- Titus was a genuine brother to the Apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 2:13).
- Titus was a partner and a fellow worker with Paul (2 Corinthians 8:23).
- Titus walked in the same spirit as Paul (2 Corinthians 12:18).
- Titus walked in the same steps as Paul, in the same manner of life (2 Corinthians 12:18).
- Therefore, Titus could be a pattern to other believers (Titus 2:7).
–David Guzik
Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
Qualifications for Elders
5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
10For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13This testimony is true.
“So notorious were the Cretans that the Greeks actually formed a verb kretizein, to cretize, which means to lie and to cheat; and they had a proverbial phrase, kreitzein pros Kreta, to cretize against a Cretan, which meant to match lies with lies, as diamond cuts diamond.”
–William Barclay
Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.
15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
from Experiencing God Day-by-Day,
by Henry T. Blackaby and Richard BlackabyALL THINGS ARE PURE
Your heart’s condition will be expressed through your life. It will be evident by your attitudes, your words, and your behavior. Jesus said that you can clearly see others only when your own eyes are unobstructed (Mark 6:42). If your vision is hindered by sin, you will not look at others properly.
If your heart is pure, you will approach life without malice. You will not question the motives of everyone around you; you will not doubt the truth of everything others tell you; you will not look for fault in others. Instead, you will look for the good in others, finding what is praiseworthy. You will not be naive or gullible, but you will seek what is good rather than what is evil. If your heart is pure, you will see others the way God sees them (Matthew 6:22).
If your heart is defiled, everything with which you are involved will seem corrupt as well. You will assume evil motives in others because you know what you would do given the same circumstances. You will be cynical about what you hear because your own words are deceitful. You will be drawn to evil people and evil things.
How do you look at the words and actions of others? Are you critical of them? Are you judgmental? If so, ask God to purify your heart. Once He has, you will be free to see yourself and others as God does.
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Music:
Lincoln Brewster was born in Alaska in 1971, and his mother noticed how well he could keep a rhythm on a drum set when he was only one year old. His musical talents as a guitarist, singer, and songwriter have been revealed in numerous recordings and concert tours. He is also the worship arts pastor for Bayside Church, Granite Bay, California. Here is a song that asks God to have more and more of our lives, for eternal purposes! “Take Me Higher.” Lyrics follow.
Take not Your Spirit from me
Lord lead me to Your peace
For my one desire is to be with You
Come cleanse my life and make me pure
Won’t you wrap me up in Your arms andTake me higher and draw me closer
And pull me deeper than I’ve ever beenHide not Your face from me
Lord set my spirit free
For my one desire is to be with You
Come cleanse my life and make me pure
Won’t You wrap me up in Your arms andTake me higher . . .
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English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
DWELLING in the Word 
Thursday Mount Carmel begins the final process in choosing a new Executive Director. How valuable this advice from the Apostle Paul is in helping us choose the individual God wants for this very important position.