Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Friday after the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity Sunday

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: Titus 2:1-10 (NKJV)
 
2:1 But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: 2 that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; 3 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things—4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
 
6 Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, 7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, 8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.
 
9 Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.
 
Devotion
 
The term vocation can be synonymous with occupation. The term “vocation” originated with Christianity, which saw that a believer is to serve God according to his place in life. It is a vocation or calling, because God, the divine Mover, has seen fit to draw us into our vocation. In Titus, chapter two, St. Paul gives exhortations that correspond to various vocations: older men, older women, young women, young men, and bondservants. Luther’s Table of Duties in the Small Catechism does the same thing. Each one is to behave in accordance with the vocation in which they find themselves.
 
Not only is Titus to preach “the doctrine of God our Savior,” but those who believe in Christ are to “adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.” The word “adorn” means to put something on. First, the good news of the forgiveness of sins is to be believed so that we receive the benefits of Christ’s atonement: righteousness. Second, we are to put that Gospel on! Believers are to adorn the Gospel with a life of thankfulness and good works. The words following today’s text explain what Christians are to do in their vocation. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age…”
 
Prayer: Heavenly Father, teach us to serve wholeheartedly in our vocation with all good fidelity, that the Gospel we believe may show forth in our words and deeds. Amen.
 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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