Craig Cooper

Titus is a book on Christian leadership that provides a plan for developing a healthy church that’s not quick and easy but effective. In Titus 1:5-9 we discover that leadership is about quality. Paul presents Titus and us with a look at what leadership needs to look like in the church. It’s a call for godly character.

Author and inspirational speaker Simon Sinek gets it right when he states, “Leadership is not about being in charge. It’s about taking care of those in your charge.” It’s also entirely accurate that as the leader goes, so goes the team. Leadership is vital because it brings guidance and direction, inspires, and is essential for problem-solving and decision-making.

In Titus, Paul presents us with a picture of godly leadership. Godly leaders are guided by principles and values found in Scripture, empowered by the Spirit, and living for God’s glory as His under-shepherds, serving His people for His purposes. We all lead in a sense in the places we live, work, go to school, and play. Therefore, this teaching found in Titus speaks to all of us.

In Titus 1:5, we find out that Paul had left Titus in Crete to complete the work of organizing the churches. He was to straighten out any problems and appoint leaders for the local churches. This is vital since healthy leadership in a church is like a strong foundation that supports the entire church family, enabling it to reach new heights of spiritual growth and community impact.

In Titus 1:6-8 Paul lists the character traits and qualities of leaders. Paul begins by listing some positive qualifications in Titus 1:6. Leaders must have their family life in order. When appointing leaders, consideration must be given to their families. Their children should be Christian, of good reputation, disciplined in their manner of life, and obedient to their parents. It’s important to note that perfection in a family is not expected, but one aiming for godliness is of vital importance.

Paul proceeds to share some qualifications from the negative or otherwise stated what they ought not to be in Titus 1:7. Those in leadership must avoid bad vices. Leaders are stewards of God, ones who care for God’s household. Five vices are specifically prohibited. All five traits are of a self-centered person. Think about it. The essence of genuine leadership lies not only in the pursuit of success but in the unwavering commitment to moral principles. Through biblical integrity, leaders inspire trust, guide with wisdom, and leave a lasting legacy of righteousness.

Paul concludes his list by sharing some more positive qualifications in Titus 1:8-9. Those in leadership must cultivate biblical virtues, and their teaching must be faithfully instructing in the truth of the gospel. By contrast with verse 7, those mentioned here are to be evidenced. For instance, a lover of good is in contrast to what false teachers love. They are to be self-controlled, which is a characteristic of the Spirit-filled life (Gal 5:23). Godly virtue is the radiant light within us, illuminating our path with compassion, humility, and love, guiding us toward a life that reflects the divine goodness of Christ we, by His help, embody.

Lastly, Paul stresses that church leaders need to have a clear understanding of biblical truth. We need to be aware that charisma is no substitute for understanding biblical truth. In fact, the exemplary life of the leader is a product of sound doctrine (understanding biblical truth). In short,

we can’t emphasize either practice or doctrine at the expense of the other.

When we consider all these leadership qualities and characteristics, we discover that leadership development begins by having an understanding of articulated biblical standards. We need to know what the Bible says and stand on those standards. Paul instructs Titus to appoint leaders who have specific qualities and characteristics; therefore, the goal in finding leaders is recognizing those who measure up to biblical standards rather than shaping standards to fit the people.

For you and me, let’s consider the following. A church will not rise above its leadership. You and I will not rise higher than our self-leadership. A family will not rise higher than its leadership. Overall, we discover from this passage in Titus that the quality of the leadership determines the quality of the life of an individual, a family, or a local church.

What is truly remarkable is how unremarkable the leadership qualifications are and how they ought to be genuinely present in the life of every believer. Therefore, we believers should take some time to reflect on our own life and character. When we consider growing as believers, we should seek mentorship and guidance from experienced believers who exemplify these qualities. After all, there is little doubt that your life is a reflection of the voices you allow to speak into it. Lastly, let me suggest that we use Titus 1:5-9 as a basis for prayer and spiritual growth, seeking God’s guidance and the Spirit’s empowerment to embody these qualities. As we look at Titus 1:5-9, let us heed the call to biblical leadership, for it’s not a privilege reserved for a chosen few but a divine invitation for every soul to rise and shine within the grace and wisdom found within the sacred pages of Scripture. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

Over the years, I have read a significant number of leadership books, such as The 360 Degree Leader, Lincoln on Leadership, The Leadership Challenge, and one of my favorites, Leadership Principles of Atilla the Hun. I even have a graduate degree in Leadership for Evangelism and Discipleship. With all of this said, I am no stranger to leadership material. By far, my favorite leadership book is Titus.

Titus is a book on Christian leadership that provides a plan for developing a healthy church that’s not quick and easy but effective. It’s important to remember that God’s church is the sum total of every one of His followers. Therefore, Titus deals with the church’s structure and how a sanctified church operates in a fallen world.

Paul is writing to Titus, who is on Crete, while he is wintering in Nicopolis, instructing Titus on how to execute a leadership plan on Crete. Titus is a Greek who probably was led to Christ through Paul’s ministry. He is Paul’s special representative to the church on Crete. Titus’ parents might have been nobles from Crete. Church tradition teaches that Titus is believed to have died in Crete. The book of Titus was written around AD 64, about the same time Paul wrote 1 Timothy.

The opening greeting in Titus is much longer in proportion to the total length of this letter than that of any of Paul’s other letters. This is an excellent reason to give it a serious look. Paul writes, “Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior; To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior” (Titus 1:1-4).

What does this greeting have to do with us today? Let me share three lessons we learn from Paul’s greeting to Titus. I share them in no particular order. First, truth is always inseparably linked with godliness. Doctrine becomes hazardous when it’s divorced from godly living. Doctrine is the body of teachings of the Christian faith concerning its central beliefs, which is grounded in Scripture and aims to maintain the integrity of Christianity. It’s of central importance in Christian preaching and teaching in that it equips the people of God for effective and faithful service in his world. Truth must produce goodness, or it’s not truth.

Godliness consists of expressions in everyday living of the character of God. Since God is love, godliness consists of loving in word and deed. Since God is mercy, godliness consists of being merciful. Since God is patient and kind, godliness is expressed through patience and kindness. The point is that while our expressions and behaviors will never achieve godly perfection, our being perfected enables us to reflect the nature of God Himself through our devotion and obedience to Christ. Therefore, putting God’s truth into practice, godliness is not the work of a special few but is the natural flow of a life in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Second, eternal life begins in the here and now, but it’s also a hope because it’s not yet a completed reality in our experience. In one sense, the believer has eternal life in Christ now. But in another sense, it’s yet to come. There is no doubt to be in Christ is to have eternal life. We read in 1 John, “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12). We don’t have to wait until we die to experience eternal life. In this sense, eternal life refers to quality more than duration. But eternal life also affirms that death is not the end of our lives. We have yet to experience the reality of this aspect of eternal life. The hope Paul speaks of is not a mere wish-dream because of Jesus’ victory over death in his resurrection.

The last lesson from Paul’s greeting that I will share is that identity matters. Believers are to find their identity in Christ, which speaks of who we are and our purpose. Paul clearly understood who he was in Christ and how that affected his purpose. Paul reminds Titus of who he is in Christ and, therefore, how that affects his purpose. All believers must be mindful of who they are in Christ and how that affects their purpose. As God’s child, identified with Him through Jesus Christ, you are loved, chosen, forgiven, redeemed, and adopted. God is the one who grows our faith and makes us new. As we believe the things that He says of us, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can do what He has called us to do. As we continue to move from one degree of Christlikeness to another, we are not only blessed but also genuinely able to bless others as His people, the church of Jesus Christ.

Growing up in my home, I was regularly reminded of what being a part of the Cooper household meant. In fact, I came to understand the benefits and expectations of being a Cooper. The benefits centered around being family. As a Cooper, I understood I was not alone; I had a whole family supporting me. I also was made keenly aware of the expectations. A Cooper doesn’t lie; we are faithful, strong, and on and on. When I was out and about, I represented the family and was expected to behave in a manner worthy of that name and never to bring dishonor to the Cooper name. When I did, I was corrected.

I guess this is why I found it more natural to accept that I am part of the family of God. I bear God’s name, identified with Him through Christ. I have been granted eternal life and called to share that such a life is available to all who receive Jesus as Savior and Lord. I also understand that the gospel truth is tied to godliness. I need to put my faith in practice for my good and the goodness of others. I am a child of God, and like Paul and Titus, all of us who are, receive great benefits and expectations, which Paul lays out for us in Titus.

I want to share this part of Paul’s greeting as a benediction of sorts. To you, my church family, “grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.” Grace and peace bring two remarkable thoughts together. Grace is God’s underserved and unearned favor at work in our lives through Jesus. It results in a sense of harmony and well-being, the peace of God. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

I have a confession to make. I like being served. I enjoy going to a restaurant with good food and having it served right at my table. I don’t like buffets. I don’t want to spend a lot of money. But I like reasonably priced delightful food brought right to me. I appreciate those who prepared and delivered it. A good dining experience is something I cherish. I don’t believe I deserve to be served. I pay for it. The servers reap the reward of a healthy financial tip. Yes! I enjoy the experience.

I would guess most of us have examples of how we like to be served, from the clerk at our favorite supermarket to a restaurant and on and on. On another note, Paul writes, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:5-8). Jesus, God, laid aside the glory of His deity and took the form of a servant, born as an earthly man. He placed humanity upon His divinity. His obedience and servitude extended to death on the cross, a punishment reserved for slaves and common criminals. We are called to possess an attitude of complete submission to God like that depicted by Christ.

Jesus, addressing his followers, declared, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:42-45). The disciples were arguing about who would be the greatest in Christ’s kingdom. Their jealous spirit was nothing like that of Jesus. He explains that unbelievers may live for themselves, but those who follow Him are to live lives of selfless service, following His example. Jesus died to set all people free from sin and death.

I am not saying it’s wrong to enjoy going out to eat or having a good experience at a grocery store. Not at all. I’m emphasizing that it’s more natural to enjoy being served than to serve. In fact, the true test of a servant is how you respond when you’re treated like one. Think about it. In a culture where we have acknowledged “inalienable rights” (I am so thankful we have done so), it can be challenging to embrace the example and attitude of our Lord as a servant. But this is precisely what we are called to do. We are to serve our spouses, friends, and even enemies. I’m not calling us to embrace unhealthy situations or relationships. The Bible does not mandate this either. I’m challenging us to note our attitude when treated like servants. I, for one, need a whole lot of Jesus to possess his attitude and follow His example. The good news is that I have Him in endless supply through the indwelling of His very Spirit. Lord, help us have your attitude and follow your example. I know He will. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

The Bible is filled with illustrations and references to agriculture. This largely is due to most of Scripture being written in a heavily agrarian society. The church continues to use agriculture speak to explain biblical principles in a similar fashion. I came across this one, “Sometimes when you’re in a dark place, you think you’ve been buried, but you’ve being planted.” Although this is not from the Bible, it’s quite biblical.

In 1 Peter, we read, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Peter 5:8-10). Due to The Fall, the world (culture), the flesh (sinful leanings), and the devil wreak havoc on all our lives. No matter how attractive things contrary to God’s permissive standards may appear, they bring only ultimate sorrow. In this life, bad decisions, our and others, and the state of the world create circumstances that seem to bury us.

Peter challenges us to resist every temptation to compromise our faith. When we suffer, we are to courageously remember God’s faithfulness and follow the examples of past and present believers who have persevered. I’m reminded of these words from Romans 8, “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). This verse does not deny hardships. Still, it offers hope that we can be confident that nothing can hurt God’s people so deeply that God cannot turn it around for their good. God is so powerful He takes that which appeared to bury us and uses it to sprout us into “oaks of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:3).

I’m reminded of the tale of the phoenix, an immortal bird from Greek mythology. The phoenix dies in a show of flames and combustion, and from the ashes is birthed a new phoenix. Like the phoenix, our God brings “beauty out of ashes” (Isaiah 61:3). He takes even those dark events that seem to bury us and, from the proverbial aches, produces in us a more profound understanding of His grace and the ability to flourish in Him. From the ashes comes life for those in Christ. You might feel like you are buried under the crud of life, but take heart, in Christ, you have been planted, and God will “restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

God has graciously provided us with no less than 32 names for Himself in the Old Testament. He presents these names to us so we can grow in knowing Him and walk more intimately with Him. One of those names is Jehovah Rohi, meaning the Lord is our Shepherd. The 19th-century preacher Charles Spurgeon declared, “We have all things and abound; not because I have a good store of money in the bank, not because I have skill and wit with which to win my bread, but because the Lord is my shepherd.”

In our modern lives, most of us live distant from that of actual shepherds. This is not to say that shepherds don’t exist today. They certainly do. But, a vast majority of us don’t have hands-on knowledge of where the food we eat and the fabrics used to make our clothes come from. However, God has placed this description of Himself as Shepherd for a purpose, which is that we know Him more fully and intimately.

What does the word shepherd or rohi mean? The word rohi is derived from a word meaning to feed. The word came to characterize a figure of great importance to Jewish culture; the shepherd who feeds and tends a flock of sheep. A shepherd cares and watches over his flock. Due to the shepherd’s care, many sheep got to know and trust their shepherds, trusting them with every aspect of their lives. This is a beautiful picture God presents to us of Himself. This is the kind of relationship God wants to have with everyone.

The most famous reference to Jehovah Rohi is Psalm 23. David starts off using the words, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). Even though this psalm is often used to comfort mourners at funerals, it wasn’t David’s intent to merely be used in mourning loss. It’s a psalm that expresses walking with God and Him being our shepherd through all the seasons of life. Psalm 23 is a psalm of profound hope.

Psalm 23, in its entirety, describes what it means that God is our shepherd. For instance, we read that God makes us lie down in green pastures, where we can rest peacefully with all the provisions we need. The first blessing we receive from our divine Shepherd is spiritual nourishment. As a shepherd leads sheep to fresh grass for feed, so the Lord leads His people. Anyone who follows the Lord does not lack any spiritual nourishment.

We also are told that God leads us beside still waters, where we can quench our thirst without fear of being swept away. A second blessing that comes from our Lord’s shepherding is spiritual restoration. As a shepherd leads his sheep to water for rest and cleansing, so the Lord restores and refreshes the soul. We can safely find forgiveness and peace as we follow Him.

Further, God restores our souls, meaning he meets all our needs, including our emotional needs. Another blessing we receive from our Shepherd is He being our constant to help us manage our emotions. It’s easy to allow the stuff of this earth to have the greatest impact on how we feel and react. However, when we place our trust in God as our Shepherd, we can receive from Him all we need in every way, including emotionally.

God leads us in paths of righteousness to help us become more and more the people He has created us to be in Him. When we walk with God, our Shepherd, He leads us down the right path for our lives. God knows the right path to bring us, His sheep, safely home. The Lord loses none of His sheep but guides them in the right way and does so, in part, “for His name’s sake.”

Lastly, we don’t have to fear any evil because He is with us, comforts us, and provides victory for us. The Lord provides protection. If one finds himself in a valley of deep darkness (or “shadow of death”), he need not fear. The Lord is with us and will protect us, leading us to victory.

I once heard a pastor declare, “The closer we are to the shepherd, the safer we are from the wolves.” The picture we receive from this psalm is of a God who is both tender and mighty. God is both in never-depleting amounts. God, as our shepherd, is able to fend off all attacks as well nurture us in His love.

In John 10, Jesus refers to Himself as not just any shepherd but “the Good Shepherd:” Jesus is the “Good Shepherd” because His purpose is to willingly give His “life for the sheep.” Jesus declares His love, concern, and care for all believers from all peoples and all time who are one people as part of God’s forever family and are one under the Good Shepherd, our Savior, and Lord. Genuinely, every word of Psalm 23 reaches its fullest depth of meaning in the Christian’s peace and trust in Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, Jehovah Rohi.

The great invitation of our Lord is to come to Him, the Good Shepherd. How often have we gone our own way and faced unsuccessful consequences? He knows us and the right path for us to journey with Him. From start to finish, the Lord hears us, sees us, and is present and willing to care for our wellbeing. Christ is the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep. He cares, protects, forgives, heals, and saves. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

Of the 32 names of God that present us with attributes and characteristics of God in the Old Testament, Jehovah Nissi, the “Lord Our Banner,” is one of them. The name for God, Jehovah Nissi, appears in Exodus 17:15. This is the only place it occurs in the Bible. It combines Jehovah, the Latinized version of Yahweh, the most frequently used name for God, with the Hebrew word, for a “banner” or a “flag.” The verse reads, “Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The Lord Is My Banner” (Exodus 17:15).

What prompted Moses to build an altar and dedicate it to Jehovah Nissi – “The Lord is My Banner?” In Exodus 17, we find the Israelites, shortly after they’ve been set free from bondage in Egypt while traveling to the Promised Land, camped at a place called Rephidim. They came under attack by the Amalekites, who didn’t appreciate the Israelites passing through their land. Moses puts Joshua in charge of leading the Israelite forces in battle. Moses declares that he will stand up on the hill with the staff of God held in his hand. This is Moses’ battle plan.

What was the “staff of God?” Moses was holding the staff he had used under God’s direction to work miracles. He used this staff when the Red Sea was parted and Israel escaped from the Egyptians. This is no ordinary staff. Joshua battled with the Amalekites all day, and Moses held up the staff. When Moses raised the staff, the Israelites prevailed, but when Moses lowered the staff, the Amalekites prevailed. As Moses’ arms tired, Aaron and Hur assisted in holding his arms high, staff in hand. In the end, God gave Israel victory over the Amalekites. The staff Moses held was like a banner flying over the army of the Israelites. It identified them as God’s people. The staff represented God’s presence with the Israelites as well as His power. The staff represented God’s people depending on Him. So, Moses built an altar to create a place of remembrance and celebration of what God had done, He being their banner.

Although God being named as Jehovah Nissi is found only in Exodus 17:15, we discover elsewhere His “banner” as a representation of His protection and salvation. For instance, Psalms 60:4-5 and 20:5 speak of God’s protection and salvation using the imagery of His banner. We discover that much like banners and flags in the ancient world, and today, God’s banner identifies those who belong to Him, those He has saved in Jesus Christ.

In Scripture, Jesus is mentioned as a banner (Isaiah 11:10, 12; Romans 15:12). He will raise a signal (or banner) for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. This includes believing Jews and Gentiles, who’ve placed their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. Jesus makes this affirmation of Himself, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32). Think about it, nothing can ever ultimately overcome us when we look to Christ, our banner, for salvation.

What can we glean from Exodus 17:15 and the other explored verses? What is the meaning for the believer? First, believers are not left to fight their battles alone but in the strength and direction of the Lord. When God’s people faced the Amalekites in battle, they were recently freed from slavery in Egypt. They were not a battle-hardened army. However, God was with them, and under His leading and power were victorious. As believers, we understand, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). On our own, who could win such a fight? But we are not on our own. We have God, and He offers His strength and leading. In fact, God promises victory, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). Therefore, the second meaning for a Christian is that believers experience ultimate victory as they rely upon, trust, and follow the Lord. Israel was victorious as long as Moses held up the staff of God. We depend on God for our victory, but we’re also responsible for trusting and following Him, cooperating with the Holy Spirit (Proverbs 3:5-6; 1 John 5:4-5). Let me add as Moses built an altar he called “The Lord Is My Banner” to remember what God had done for Israel, we, too, need to remember and celebrate the way God has led us and the victories He has provided, most importantly, salvation in Christ.

There’s a quote often attributed to Abraham Lincoln, “My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.” This quote is thought to have been spoken by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War as a reaction to a clergyman who had actually commended the Union’s reason as being “the Lord’s cause.” Lincoln emphasized the importance of aligning oneself with God and His will instead of presuming that God is in agreement with us. We need to realize that Moses held up the “staff of God.” It’s God’s staff. We need to understand that we’re not the banner. God is the banner Who brings protection and salvation. We need to remember we aren’t to wait for God to rally to us; we are to rally to Him, Jehovah Nissi, the Lord our Banner. When we do, ultimate victory is ours in Christ. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

We discover in the Old Testament 32 names of God. Each presents us with attributes and characteristics of God. Becoming familiar with these names allows us to draw closer to God. One of the names of God is Jehovah Jireh, which means “the Lord will provide.”

We are first introduced to God as Jehovah Jireh in Genesis 22. At God’s direction, Abraham is taking his son Isaac up a mountain to sacrifice him. God promised Abraham that He would make him a great nation. In fact, God declares that he will bless Abraham to be a blessing, and the nation he will father will be blessed to bless the nations of the world.

Isaac was a child of promise. Both Abraham and Isaac’s Mom, Sarah, were beyond childbearing years. God provides through Sarah Isaac. Abraham understood that God’s promise that he would be the father of a great nation rested in this son of promise. This makes Isaac, Abraham’s son, of great importance to God’s divine plan.

Place yourself in Abraham’s shoes (or sandals) for a minute. He is a Dad. This son was a blessing provided to him in his old age (a literal miracle). Think about it. Abraham was asked to measure his faith in relation to his parental love for his son. No one can take such testing lightly. In addition, Abraham’s parental challenge was a deeply spiritual one. God had revealed to Abraham that his promise to him was intertwined with Isaac’s life. Abraham understood that if the promises of God were to be fulfilled, Isaac’s life would have to be preserved. Here is part of Abraham’s dilemma: The promise of God required that Isaac live, while the command of God demanded he should die. However, Abraham pressed on, not always knowing the why, where, or when but always knowing the Who!

While journeying together, Isaac asks, “Where is the sacrifice?” Abraham responds, “God will provide the sacrifice.” Eventually, Abraham and Isaac reach where the sacrifice is to take place. Isaac is laid on an altar, and Abraham raises up the knife to sacrifice Isaac. Picture Abraham, blade raised high, heartbreaking, and faith stretched. God intervenes. This is a triumph of divine timing. Abraham was taken to the point of no return, not only for God to see but for Abraham to see his faith for himself (not to mention Isaac witnessing all of this from his uncomfortable position).

Abraham looks, and a ram is caught in a thicket by his horns. This is provided as the sacrifice. He could not have known when he told Isaac that “God would provide the sacrifice” what was about to happen. Picture this, as Abraham and Isaac are walking up one side of the mountain, God has already provided the ram on the other side of the mountain. God is named here as Jehovah Jireh; the Lord will provide.

For you and I today, we can know God as Jehovah Jireh by seeing what He has provided for us as well. God provides our daily needs. In Matthew 6, we see how Jesus tells His followers not to worry about food or clothes but that the God who cares for nature also cares for them. In addition to, and even more important than, our basic necessities, God also provides the sacrifice needed to redeem us. John the Baptizer declared of Jesus, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (Joh 1:29)! Scripture is clear that our sin deserves death. Yet Jesus, as the Lamb of God, was our atoning sacrifice, providing those who believe with everlasting life. Romans 6:23 clearly declares, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Further, we read, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God provides for our salvation.

Besides the greatest benefit, salvation, I want to share three other benefits of knowing God as Provider. Firstly, we are content when we know God as Jehovah Jireh (Philippians 4:12-13). Secondly, we get peace when we know God as Jehovah Jireh (Philippians 4:6-7). Thirdly, we can be mission-focused when we know God as Jehovah Jireh (Matthew 6:31-33).

I came across the account of Chandler Moore, a vocalist who has been part of the recording of the song “Jireh.” Four days before recording the song, his apartment, at 4 am, caught on fire. He was supposed to be in the apartment that morning. He was scheduled to fly out of town at 8am that morning. But he switched the flight to leave a day early to catch a church service. He explains, “This could have gone another way. Point is: I’m alive.” He lost almost all of his material possessions, which I bet was frustrating. However, he declares, “I have life! The Lord is so kind.” Materially Moore lost practically everything, but because he knows God as his provider, his Jehovah Jireh, He can praise God with his whole heart. When our Lord’s miraculous kindness and provisions are on display as it was in Moore’s life, we can’t help but be thankful for the life he provides and sustains. What does knowing God as Jehovah Jireh do for you? Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

I was out with a friend the other day, and he mentioned an interesting phrase he came across in 2 Timothy 2:15, “rightly dividing the word of truth.” The whole verse reads, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” The phrase in question means to understand, correctly interpret and teach the Scriptures with the help of the Holy Spirit. The Greek word for “rightly dividing” implies guiding the truth along a straight path, expounding it soundly, and shaping it rightly. In the ESV translation, this word is rendered as “rightly handling the word of truth.”

Paul writing his young protégé Timothy such instruction in 2 Timothy should not surprise us since this letter presents Paul’s final words to a beloved kingdom laborer. We should all live life in such a way that we can say, like Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). In context, 2 Timothy 2:15, Paul is instructing us on how to teach the truth of God’s Word. He also describes how not to do it. We are not to be like false teachers. Paul writes, “But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness” (2 Timothy 2:16). The false teacher may seek people’s approval, but the true teacher seeks God’s approval. Why? Because he does not want to be ashamed before God.

Living by the word and teaching it rightly may not win us any popularity contests. The Bible can be intrusive. However, it instructs on how to know God and make Him known, leading us into God’s preferred destiny for us. I am reminded of Proverbs 3:7, “Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. Also, Proverbs 16:2 says, “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.” I would rather be a fool in the eyes of man than a fool in the eyes of God. I certainly don’t want to be the proverbial blind man leading the blind.

Regarding the phrase “rightly dividing,” false teachers may twist meanings for their own purposes. This is not so for those who “rightly handle the word of truth.” The true teacher must have nothing to do with godless or empty talk. Such discussions only lead people away from God.

I met with a person once who sought to teach God’s Word. I proceeded to provide some help on how to rightly study and apply the Bible. The person’s response, “I don’t have time for that!” I responded, “Then, please don’t teach God’s Word.”

Paul warns us, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions” (2 Timothy 4:3). In other words, false teaching increases because people want to hear what pleases them rather than what is true. “Itching ears” addresses a harmful curiosity to hear anything new and sensational running from one teacher to another. We need to be rooted in the truth because unquestionably accepting as truth whatever is said – or printed – leads only to following fables and falsities down a destructive path.

The good news is we have Scripture. We know how to study the Bible; if not, we can learn how to do so rightly (hermeneutic principles). We, believers, have the Holy Spirit to help us read, understand, and apply God’s Word to our lives. I am glad my friend mentioned the phrase “rightly dividing the word of truth.” I pray we are found “rightly handling the word of truth” in our lives. Such living glorifies God, blesses us, and benefits others. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

I have always been encouraged and challenged by the story of D.L. Moody, who lived in the latter half of the 1800s. His formal education ended after fifth grade. At seventeen, he left his home to pursue employment in Boston. After failing to secure a job, he asked his uncle to hire him, who reluctantly brought him on as a shoe salesman at his retail shoe store. One condition of Moody’s hiring was that he would attend church.

Moody began attending a Sunday School class at the Mt. Vernon Congregational Church. One day Moody’s Sunday School teacher visited him at work, where he shared the message of salvation in Christ with him, and shortly after that, Moody received Christ as Savior and Lord. He devoted his life to serving the Savior.

A year later, Moody moved to Chicago, dreaming of making his fortune in the shoe business. He had much success in selling shoes. He developed a burden to provide a Sunday School class for Chicago’s children and the local Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). At the YMCA, Moody served as a janitor and wherever else needed. Although they could not pay him, they recommended he stay as a city missionary.

The Sunday School class Moody began and led flourished and grew into a church, where he became the pastor. The church remains today (The Moody Church). Moody continued to stay connected to the YMCA. During the Civil War, he began an outreach to the soldiers stationed at Camp Douglas, established outside Chicago. Moody ministered on battlefields and throughout the city, state, and country to thousands of Union and Confederate soldiers throughout the war. All the while, he maintained the mission Sunday School. After the war, Moody led revival meetings in the US, England, and Ireland. He’s credited with founding numerous ministries, missions, and schools, such as the historical Moody Bible Institute.

Moody’s story is that of an undereducated man who became a successful shoe salesman and is remembered as an evangelist, teacher, urban ministry pioneer, and founder of Moody Bible Institute and its original ministries. Moody once said of another unlikely servant in the hands of God, “Moses spent forty years thinking he was somebody; forty years learning he was nobody; and forty years discovering what God can do with nobody.”

Whenever you wonder if God can use you to make a kingdom impact remember, “It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). Believers can rejoice in God’s empowering presence as they place themselves in His capable hands. The goal is not to become another Moody. The goal is to walk with the Lord, knowing Him and making Him known as He manifests His love and message through you. The goal is to be an everyday missionary in the places where we live, go to work or school, and play. Further, in Christ’s power and leading, we can flourish in Him, experiencing all He will do in and through us for His glory, our blessing, and the betterment of others. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

Jehovah Shalom is one of the 32 names of God found in the Old Testament. It means the Lord is peace. Jehovah is the Latinized version of the Hebrew name of God, Yahweh. Shalom is a Hebrew word for peace, which appears more than 200 times in the Old Testament. The root meaning is “to be whole.” Shalom may suggest either a personal, internal peace in the heart of an individual or an external peace between people and nations. In a personal sense, it’s a peace that gives us victory no matter how hard our personal lives become or how difficult the circumstances we face. Shalom “puts our minds at ease” despite the stress, anxiety, tension, pressures, or worries that may come our way.

In the Old Testament book of Judges, we discover an account where God is called Jehovah Shalom. Judges records events that occurred within the 250 years after Joshua, Moses’ successor, died. After Joshua’s death, the Israelites lost momentum in driving out the inhabitants of the Promised Land. The Lord warned that this would lead Israel into a downward spiral. This is precisely what happens as the Israelites begin worshipping idols, suffering punishment by attackers, crying to God for help, and receiving God’s aid in the form of a human judge (or “deliverer”) who restores order. In short, Israel goes through cycles of sin, suffering, and salvation.

One of the Judges is Gedeon, who lived when the Midianites were causing havoc on the Israelites. We read of an account of an angel of the Lord appearing to Gideon in Judges 6. Notably, Gideon was beating wheat in a winepress (Judges 6:11). Nothing is mentioned in Scripture casually. Gideon is in a winepress because he fears his enemies, the Midianites. Gideon is like a child fearing bullies will steal his lunch. Keep in mind that fear and faith cannot coexist in equal measures. Where fear increases, faith diminishes, and where faith increases, fear diminishes. One always gives way to the other.

The Lord calls Gideon to deliver Israel as He also works Gideon through his doubts about God and himself (Judges 6:12-21). Fear has dominated Gideon, and he cannot comprehend the angel’s greeting or God’s call on his life. Gideon’s fear has distorted his view of God, his current situation, as well as what God can do in and through his life. It’s apparent in the account that Gideon has the strength to save Israel but must appropriate it through faith. Faith activates the Lord’s provisions in and through our life. Again, faith and fear cannot coexist in equal measures. One must give way to the other. Gideon has to come to the realization that his strength lies in his being chosen by God and in God’s promise to be with him. The Lord encourages Gideon. He declares, “I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man” (Judges 6:16). What is unthinkable on my own is unstoppable with God!

As Gideon accepts his call, we read, “Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, The Lord Is Peace. To this day it still stands at Ophrah, which belongs to the Abiezrites” (Judges 6:24). Gideon declares, “The Lord is Peace.” Peace is part of the character of God. God revealed himself as the Lord of Peace to Gideon. We discover Gideon in a time lacking peace where the Midianites are bringing havoc on Israel. Gideon does not have personal peace, as we find by his hiding and possessing such a poor view of himself. But, when he encounters the Lord, he receives genuine peace. Gideon still lives in this fallen world, but he gains a heavenly perspective and a touch of the peace of our eternal God. Genuine peace is found in and only in the Lord.

It becomes clear through the New Testament that Jesus is the source and giver of shalom, of peace. Peace is grounded and rooted in Jesus, God the Son, Prince of Peace (Romans 1:7; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Luke 1:35, 37; 2:1). Jesus, as “Prince of Peace,” is the giver of (shalom) “peace.” Jesus brings both world peace and personal peace. One is still to come, and the other is available here and now. The ultimate fulfillment of this “shalom” peace will occur when Christ returns, but a foretaste can be experienced in the inner life of a believer today. It’s been said, “No Jesus; no peace. Know Jesus; know peace. This is so true. The peace of God will reign in the lives of those who choose Him, Jehovah Shalom. The Lord is our peace. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!