Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Friday after the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity Sunday

Posted on September 11, 2015 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
Leave a comment

Scripture: Titus 2:1-10 (NKJV)

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

Sound doctrine is not just a matter of books and theological debates. It is the very Word of God applied to every important aspect of life. This is another reason why the lies and compromises of false teachers are so dangerous and cannot be ignored. Doctrine bears the wisdom of our Lord on how to live, for the young and the old, the single and the married, the employer and the worker, and so on. Doctrine is not merely about abstract philosophies; it is about the real life that every one of us experiences.

Neither is sin a philosophical abstraction. It is not just the idea that we have violated some system of order, but it is the very real problem of harm and damage that comes to us and those around us when we do evil. Sin and righteousness are matters of the spirit, and of the flesh and blood!

God gives us His Word so that we may know what is virtuous and what is harmful. However, because Adam and Eve’s sins not only affected them, but everyone who descended from them, we all fail to recognize and do what is truly virtuous. By our nature we choose to do harmful things. But His doctrine teaches us. It shows us our need to repent, the things we should do, and, most importantly, how we are to see and believe His Gospel of our salvation in Jesus Christ. Doctrine affects real life because it is how we learn of our eternal life in Him.

We pray: Lord God, make us truly faithful according to Your Word and Spirit, so that we may do those things that are truly good and help those who need Your wisdom in mercy. In Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Leave a Comment