Covenant Grove Daily Devotionals

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.‭‭Psalms‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The psalms are the poems and songs of faith. Many were written by David, who began collecting them for public and private prayer. They are gathered in five books and cover a wide range of human emotion. For thousands of years, people have found comfort and inspiration from these songs of faith.

The first psalm begins with an invitation. A faithful and fruitful life only happens with intentional choices. It happens when you choose Jesus who chose you, following Him even when it is hard. It happens when you have godly people in your life who influence you to pursue Christ. And a faithful and fruitful life happens when you delight in the law of the Lord. God is revealed in His Word, and nothing brings greater joy than knowing the Lord. His laws are not meant to hold you down but set you free.

How can you grow in your delight of Gods Word? How do your choices and relationships affect your faith

Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These things are useless and a waste of time. If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them. For people like that have turned away from the truth, and their own sins condemn them. I am planning to send either Artemas or Tychicus to you. As soon as one of them arrives, do your best to meet me at Nicopolis, 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. Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others; then they will not be unproductive. Everybody here sends greetings. Please give my greetings to the believersall who love us. May Gods grace be with you all.‭‭Titus‬ ‭3‬:‭9‬-‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Christian life is not about feeling superior or winning arguments. In Pauls time, believers often got sidetracked by pointless debates and meaningless discussions. Though Paul entrusted Titus with authority, he didnt expect him to win every argument. Instead, Paul advised Titus to avoid certain disputes altogether, teaching that true wisdom includes knowing when to walk away. Having authority doesnt mean controlling everythingit means discerning what truly matters.

Walking away can be difficult because we all crave being right and coming out on top. However, even in matters of unityof great importance within the Body of ChristPaul instructed Titus to rebuke someone twice and then move on (v.10). This approach preserves unity by avoiding endless conflict with those driven by their own agendas.

Ultimately, the Christian life is about walking with God. This walk transforms us, strengthening us through lifes storms and filling us with lasting joy, even in the midst of challenges. Spending time with God shifts our focus away from selfishness and superiority, freeing us to trust Jesus and pursue what is right. This is the essence of life as a child, friend, and servant of God. Its the life we were created to live.

Do you know when to walk away from a foolish argument? How can you follow Jesus (right living) without looking down on others?

Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good. They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone. Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. But When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone.‭‭Titus‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

God saved us out of mercy not because of what we had done. Of course, we can be proud (not arrogant) about the good things we do. But we humbly recognize that everything good we have has come from God and His help. It is only His grace that makes us right in Gods sight, giving confidence (v.7). We remember that without Him we were foolish, disobedient, and misled by our desires (v.3). As followers of Jesus, we live with integrity and humility.

Paul told Titus to submit to the government. This is the teaching of Gods Word, yet we remember that Paul was arrested by the government, and Jesus was condemned to die by the authorities. They did not compromise their religious convictions because of the government human rulers and laws can be flawed. In the ancient world, Christians were killed because they would not say Caesar is Lord. Dr. Martin Luther King broke unjust laws to live out biblical justice. In persecuted countries, it is illegal to be a Christian, yet the faithful still call upon the name of Jesus. Recently in America, Christians were forbidden by authorities to worship Jesus, yet the faithful still praised the Lord (the mandate was later ruled unconstitutional). Christians follow the law of the land except when it violates Gods Law.

How can you have integrity and humility? Why are both important? What does it mean to submit to the government? Are you willing to break a law if it is unjust or violates Gods higher law?

Slaves must always obey their masters and do their best to please them. They must not talk back or steal, but must show themselves to be entirely trustworthy and good. Then they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in every way. For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. You must teach these things and encourage the believers to do them. You have the authority to correct them when necessary, so dont let anyone disregard what you say.‭‭Titus‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬-‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What does it mean to be saved? What have you been saved from? For many people, salvation means they have escaped punishment. This is true, but it isnt enough. God wants to save (cleanse v. 14) you from sin, and this means He needs to save you from your desire for sin. Jesus gave His life to free us from sin; this means we allow Him to live in us and transform our desires so that we no longer want to sin. We live for Him. Paul challenged everyone to live godly lives even if they were in hard situations. Paul didnt say slavery was good, but he challenged Christian slaves to live their faith and shine for Jesus. Christ died, rose again, and lives in us. We have His power to overcome our sin and live godly lives.

We have a new motivation for right living gratitude. Our lives are always lived in view of His love and sacrifice. He lives inside of us. Even if we are in an unjust situation, we can still live exemplary lives because of Christ. We wont grow by accident our choices are motivated by more than what is easy or practical. Our hearts are filled as we follow Christ.

Think about your life. What habit of sin is the Spirit working to change in your life? How can you cooperate with God and overcome?

As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching. Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience. Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God. In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely. And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. Teach the truth so that your teaching cant be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.‭‭Titus‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Self-control is essential to the Christian life it is a fruit of the Spirit and product of humility. Self-control begins by understanding that much of what we want is misguided and needs correction. Scripture consistently emphasizes the importance of self-control, reminding us that unchecked words, indulgence in food or drink, and pursuit of every want can lead to ruindamaging our lives, relationships, and finances. Titus was instructed to model a life of wholesome teaching (vv.7-8), applying Gods truth to every relationship.

There is a deeper problem in us: it is not just that we DO the wrong things, we WANT the wrong things. Our wills, our desires, are misguided and even corrupted. Following Jesus means you start down the path of self-control, allowing Him to put to death your corrupt will and replacing it with a heart that beats for what is true and good (Eze 36:26-27; Ron 8:13). As time goes on, after much self-discipline and obeying your Savior, your desires are transformed, and you want what God wants, even if it means suffering. Our desires must always be held up to Gods Word, godly counsel, and prayer. God is working in you, working to kill the cancer (of sin) that is working to kill you. Surrender to Him and live a life of self-control.

If God loves us, why doesnt He give us everything we want? How would you answer someone who said that all human desires are good as long as they dont hurt someone? Why is self-control important for spiritual growth?

Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. He must live wisely and be just. He must live a devout and disciplined life. He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong. For there are many rebellious people who engage in useless talk and deceive others. This is especially true of those who insist on circumcision for salvation. They must be silenced, because they are turning whole families away from the truth by their false teaching. And they do it only for money. Even one of their own men, a prophet from Crete, has said about them, The people of Crete are all liars, cruel animals, and lazy gluttons. This is true. So reprimand them sternly to make them strong in the faith. They must stop listening to Jewish myths and the commands of people who have turned away from the truth. Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted. Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live. They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good.‭‭Titus‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

To the pure, all things are pure. This is one of the most insightful and freeing verses in the Bible. All things God made are good (1 Tim 4:4) and made to be enjoyed. But humans, in their own corruption, have corrupted what was good. We have mistakenly called certain things bad. Things cant be evil; only actions can be evil because good and evil are about the will. Sex isnt bad when it is used as God designed. Alcohol is meant to be enjoyed in moderation. Even (prescription) drugs are meant to be used to help humans. It is when these things get misused that problems happen.

The pure life is full of joy. Truly pure people dont avoid pleasure; that is legalism they drink deeply from the cup of life. Purity is more than innocence. The pure have fought the good fight inside their hearts against evil and over-indulgence. It is the weak who do whatever their selfish wills want. The pure understand contentment and moderation, and so they experience pleasure in a more satisfying, sustained way. They deeply enjoy Gods good creation. Avoid all excess and make it your ambition to live a simple, pure life. This is a life full of the best joys and pleasures life has to offer.

What does it mean that to the pure, all things are pure? How can you enjoy the good things of life without over-indulging or forsaking contentment in Christ?

This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives. This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which Godwho does not liepromised them before the world began. And now at just the right time he has revealed this message, which we announce to everyone. It is by the command of God our Savior that I have been entrusted with this work for him. I am writing to Titus, my true son in the faith that we share. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior give you grace and peace. I left you on the island of Crete so you could complete our work there and appoint elders in each town as I instructed you. An elder must live a blameless life. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who dont have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. A church leader is a manager of Gods household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money.‭‭Titus‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul described himself as a slave of God, and he gave his life to Gods work. Being a slave to Jesus is the only true freedom. Paul described Titus as his true son in the faith, and he asked Titus to make sure that only godly people were put into positions of leadership. Spiritual leaders should be held to a higher standard they should demonstrate lives of integrity before they are put into leadership positions. Titus had been Pauls companion for some time. He is mentioned in Galatians, one of Pauls earliest letters, and he also helped Paul in Corinth. Paul trained and loved his young protgs, and he held them to a higher standard, expecting them to work and suffer for Jesus.

Fully devoted people understand that they are slaves of God they have given themselves to Gods work and do not live for their own pleasure, ambition, or selfishness. These people will not win the awards of the world they are the spiritual leaders who will change the world with Jesus. See yourself as a child of God, perfectly loved. See yourself as a servant only in serving Christ will you experience freedom. When you know down to your core that you are loved and you are a servant, you will be free. And God will use you to change countless lives.

How can you hold yourselfand your leadersto a higher standard? How is being a slave of Christ the only path of freedom

Timothy, please come as soon as you can. Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, be sure to bring the coat I left with Carpus at Troas. Also bring my books, and especially my papers. Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm, but the Lord will judge him for what he has done. Be careful of him, for he fought against everything we said. The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death. Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen. Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila and those living in the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus stayed at Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick at Miletus. Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus sends you greetings, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters. May the Lord be with your spirit. And may his grace be with all of you.‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬-‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

These are the Apostle Pauls final written words. How did he end his life? First, he sent his closest co-workers off to plant new churches. Even as he was about to die, Paul stayed focused on his calling to spread the Good News to new areas. Second, he didnt hold grudges. He forgave those who abandoned him and didnt write off those who had wronged him. He did warn Timothy to be wary of certain people, but he didnt end his life with any bitterness or hate.

Third, he focused on Christ, the center of his life. Jesus was with him through the hardships, and Paul was focused on giving glory to God alone. Finally, Paul ended his life with hope. He was hopeful that the mission would continue. Paul was hopeful that, before he would be executed, Timothy would arrive. Paul was hopeful about the future of the faith that he had worked so tirelessly to grow. He finished well.

What does it mean to you to finish well a job, a relationship, or this life? Which of the four endings from Pauls life could be stronger in your life mission, forgiveness, focus on Jesus, or hope?

I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Dont be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you. As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits methe crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul was about to die, and he was leaving a legacy. He knew there was no success without a successor. He told Timothy to train others who could train others in the Word of God (2:2). He invested in Timothy and modeled the way of genuine faith: be willing to suffer, preach the Word of God, and do the work of an evangelist. This is a life dedicated to Jesus, rooted in Him, loving others, and growing the Kingdom of God. This is a life well lived in Jesus fight the good fight and finish the race to win the crown of righteousness (vv.7-8).

Truth must be spoken and not be silenced. This means that you need to speak up even if you will be rejected. Some people will run from the truth because it convicts them of what they are doing wrong in their lives. Yet others will gravitate to truth and respond to it. Gods Word is truth, and Jesus is the full revelation of Gods truth. Make a commitment today to share Gods truth. Dont be rude but share in gentle, wise ways. Share boldly. You can speak on a stage or with a single person. Let go of the fear of rejection. God has accepted you, so you dont need the acceptance of anyone else.

How can you live and leave a legacy of faith? Where do you need to speak up and share Gods truth?

But you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance. You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystrabut the Lord rescued me from all of it. Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived. But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Want to be confident? Stand on Gods Word. His Word is always true because it is from God. As you study and understand Gods Word, you grow more and more confident. You understand human nature, the character of the Lord, and the plan of God. You comprehend history and movements, and you start to see how the future will be shaped. One of the most important commitments we can ever make is to grow in the Word of God, making time in the Bible a regular habit. That commitment can change everything in our lives as we walk with the Lord. Those who stand on the Word of God are confident and strong.

Confidence also comes from living out Gods Word in everyday life. You are not going to accidentally follow Gods way you must make a choice to follow Gods way shown in Gods Word. You will need support from others who love Jesus and have made the same choice. Following Jesus does not mean that life will be easy, as Pauls sufferings prove. Paul learned to trust in God. The Lord did not spare him from suffering but was with him through the pain. It is only through the storms that you learn to trust your Captain. You are a child of God, and He wants to grow His confidence in you.

How important is the Bible to you? What is your highest authority Gods Word, your own thinking, or the values of the world or those around you? How is God growing confidence in you?