Today we’ll continue looking at Paul’s pastoral letters by looking at Titus 1:10-16:

10 There are also many rebellious people, idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision; 11 they must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for sordid gain what it is not right to teach. 12 It was one of them, their very own prophet, who said,

“Cretans are always liars, vicious brutes, lazy gluttons.”

13 That testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply, so that they may become sound in the faith, 14 not paying attention to Jewish myths or to commandments of those who reject the truth. 15 To the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure. Their very minds and consciences are corrupted. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their actions. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

We see Paul continue to tell Titus that the work that he has ahead of him will be hard.  You may have heard the word “Cretin,” this word means – a stupid, vulgar, or insensitive person.  This word finds its origin in the place of “Crete.”  So, yeah, this is not a fun place to be.  Paul tells Titus that in the midst of all this, he will have to be strong. 

Titus is going to have to work hard to build up the church.  He’s going to have to work hard to keep everyone pointed in the right direction.  He’s going to have to keep his eyes focused on Jesus.  

The paths that we have to walk aren’t always easy.   God doesn’t always place us on the easy path.  In fact, when you look at scripture, very rarely does God call us to things that are always easy.  Obedience is often a challenge because obedience requires faith.  I think that’s why God calls us to hard places and to hard things sometimes because if the path was something that we could walk by ourselves, it would be something that we could do by our own strength. 

It wouldn’t take faith.  And the Bible tells us that we cannot please God, apart from faith.  

So, if you are walking a hard road today, lean into faith.  Faith will make all things possible, even the hard things.  Lean into faith.  Paul knew Titus would need that faith to be faithful in a hard place. 

You may need it today.  Lean into faith.  God is good, always. Trust in Him, the harder it is, the more we need Him. 

Lean into faith. 

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