BibleDiscipleship

A Life That Highlights the Attractiveness of the Gospel

In Titus 2, Paul is describing what lives shaped by “sound doctrine” or “healthy teaching” look like. All who are disciples of Jesus–older men, older women, younger women, younger men, bondservants–all are to be transformed by the grace of God which is training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright, godly lives in the present age (Titus 2:11-12).

Paul summarizes his point this way in Titus 2:10:

…so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

To “adorn” is to decorate or add beauty to. To “adorn” is to make more pleasing, attractive, or impressive. Think of the ornaments many of us will hang on evergreen trees in December. We are “adorning” those trees. To “adorn” is to enhance or highlight the attractiveness of someone or something. Think of the bride who “adorns” her hair with a wreath of flowers on her wedding day.

What a powerful way, then, for Paul to describe life the way our Creator intends it to be: that in everything his redeemed sons and daughters would adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

Paul uses some challenging words in Titus 2:1-10 to describe what lives shaped by healthy teaching look like:

  • sober-minded
  • dignified
  • self-controlled
  • sound in faith
  • sound in love
  • sound in steadfastness
  • reverent in behavior
  • not slanderers
  • not slaves to much wine
  • loving
  • kind
  • not argumentative
  • models of good works
  • integrity

…so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

All of which leads to some practical questions for the day:

  • Will I be that sort of example today?
  • Will my conduct on social media harmonize with those words today?
  • Will I be that sort of employee today?
  • Will my family see those characteristics in me today?
  • Will my decisions, actions, and reactions highlight the attractiveness of the gospel today?

That’s life, the way it was meant to be.

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