Today’s chapter is Titus 3

Tom writes:

Again we hear it - we were saved so that we would devote ourselves to doing what is good. The ship has sailed, the coach has departed, the train has left the station - the goal and purpose of the Christian faith was defined long ago. When we come to faith we buy into a movement whose purpose is set, we agree to be taken in a certain direction. We devote ourselves to doing what is good. If we want to debate that then Paul will listen twice but on the third time he will just throw us overboard. There comes a time when we just need to submit, we just need to yield ourselves to God’s purpose for Christianity. So I ask myself whether I actually do good? And how much effort have I put into doing more good? What does that mean anyway? A growing sense in the evangelical church is that we’ve prioritised racing pulses, large gatherings, quick fixes and pragmatic solutions to the reformation of our souls. We’ve wanted results rather than renovated hearts. We’ve lost the vision of what it really is to be a Christian - we’ve publicised busy buildings instead of people who do good all through the week. How could we rebuild a vision of a truly good life, lived in joy before God? Well, Paul says at the start of this chapter that doing good is to slander no-one, it is to be peaceable and considerate and to show true humility towards all men. Doing good is played out in relationships more than in activities. Doing good is about what attitude I have to the people who are already in my life.

The vision of the good life is a life of good relationships, of genuine cleanness in how we relate to others. We earn money to keep our family fed and well and we give them attention and honour, celebrating what they do well. Doing good is to be someone who serves sacrificially at church and also speaks well of the atheists and the backsliders and the bozos who vote for “the other party”. Doing good, refuses to be divided over politics or to be quick to pass judgement on someone who has done something wrong. It doesn’t get easily stressed, it isn’t often too busy for people, it rarely snaps back with an answer that it regrets. Ultimately doing good comes down to seeing the image of God in people, to interrupt our preoccupation with ourselves to attend to others. And this is the gospel - you can become that kind of person. Through Jesus the Holy Spirit has been generously poured out. He will enable you to become good if you allow the Spirit to reform your heart. That is what it means for grace to be with you.

Question for reflection

How beautiful would it be to have a truly good heart?

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Titus 3 - Friday 29th March