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Thursday of the Third Week after the Epiphany
Today’s Reading: Titus 1:1-9
Daily Lectionary: Zechariah 9:1-17; 2 Timothy 2:1-26
Paul, a servant of God 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, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior. (Titus 1:1–3)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. This text shows us what makes a pastor. It’s actually in that rambling introduction though, not in a pastor’s behavior. We love rushing to the reproach part, but who would be left standing? I’m not saying your pastor should lean into sin. I’m saying Christ bore our reproaches upon the cross, as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”
The makeup of a pastor starts with God’s will and truth, not with the behavior of men. For the sake of the faith of the elect, the God who never lies would see His Gospel preached. The Lord insists the elect have hope and truth. He’s even preached the Gospel through Caiaphas and Pilate both.
Start with the Gospel. Let the clergy not take an iota or a dot from it. Not with false teaching, and not by their actions, either. The reason Paul calls the clergy to the standard he does is because sin is by nature selfish.
The list of sins he lays out to Titus point to self, not Christ. He clarifies as he closes, “He 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.” Give Jesus to sinners, don’t take Him from them. God promised them eternal life before the ages began. Don’t settle for those who would turn a gift into extortion. Your pastor gives Jesus to sinners. To you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. –Rev. Harrison Goodman
Though with a scornful wonder The world sees her oppressed, By schisms rent asunder, By heresies distressed, Yet saints their watch are keeping; Their cry goes up, “How long?” And soon the night of weeping Shall be the morn of song. (The Church’s One Foundation, LSB 644:3)
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By Higher Things®Today’s Reading: Titus 1:1-9
Daily Lectionary: Zechariah 9:1-17; 2 Timothy 2:1-26
Paul, a servant of God 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, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior. (Titus 1:1–3)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. This text shows us what makes a pastor. It’s actually in that rambling introduction though, not in a pastor’s behavior. We love rushing to the reproach part, but who would be left standing? I’m not saying your pastor should lean into sin. I’m saying Christ bore our reproaches upon the cross, as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”
The makeup of a pastor starts with God’s will and truth, not with the behavior of men. For the sake of the faith of the elect, the God who never lies would see His Gospel preached. The Lord insists the elect have hope and truth. He’s even preached the Gospel through Caiaphas and Pilate both.
Start with the Gospel. Let the clergy not take an iota or a dot from it. Not with false teaching, and not by their actions, either. The reason Paul calls the clergy to the standard he does is because sin is by nature selfish.
The list of sins he lays out to Titus point to self, not Christ. He clarifies as he closes, “He 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.” Give Jesus to sinners, don’t take Him from them. God promised them eternal life before the ages began. Don’t settle for those who would turn a gift into extortion. Your pastor gives Jesus to sinners. To you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. –Rev. Harrison Goodman
Though with a scornful wonder The world sees her oppressed, By schisms rent asunder, By heresies distressed, Yet saints their watch are keeping; Their cry goes up, “How long?” And soon the night of weeping Shall be the morn of song. (The Church’s One Foundation, LSB 644:3)