Today's Bible Reading: Titus 1

Selected Biblical Text
To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. 16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. (Titus 1:15-16 NIV)

Reflecting and Thinking
Titus faced very difficult problems on the island of Crete. Few problems challenge the church more than the problem described by the Old Testament prophet, that people call good evil and evil good. Church leaders must love what is good. In fact, Titus calls every Christian to do what is good. Some of the Cretans -- even while they claimed to know God -- were so rebellious, immoral, corrupted, and unbelieving that they are described as "unfit for doing anything good."

Are you familiar with the phrase, "good for nothing?" What happens in a local church when the commitment to doing what is good is lost? What happens in the life of a Christian when that commitment is lost? What can you personally do to equip yourself today for being more capable of and committed to doing what is good?

Prayer
Father God, deliver us from our focus on the things of this world, our desire to protect ourselves, our tendencies to warp the truth and to become enmeshed in countless peripheral details of Christian teaching. Guide us to purity of thought and life. Empower us for consistent living so our actions and beliefs match. Help us do what is good, in the name of our Savior who went about doing good, Amen.