Titus 2:1 But say the things which fit the sound doctrine,
2 that older men should be temperate, sensible, sober-minded, sound in faith, in love, and in patience:
3 and that older women likewise be reverent in behavior, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good;
4 that they may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 to be sober-minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that God's word may not be blasphemed.
6 Likewise, exhort the younger men to be sober-minded;
7 in all things showing yourself an example of good works; in your teaching showing integrity, seriousness, incorruptibility,
8 and soundness of speech that can't be condemned; that he who opposes you may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say about us.
9 Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters, and to be well-pleasing in all things; not contradicting;
10 not stealing, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior, in all things.
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
12 instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world;
13 looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ;
14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.
15 Say these things and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no man despise you.
Devotional:
Here is the reason for the strict moral behavior that is required of us: We live between the coming of grace and the appearance of glory. These two events, one past and the other future, determine the way we live in the present world.
"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared"�not to disappear again but to educate. It trains us in the art of saying yes and no. Grace teaches us to live "self-controlled, upright and godly lives." "Self-controlled" describes our personal attitude, "upright" says how we behave in relation to our neighbors, and "godly" is a manner of living that shows our knowledge of God.
A person is "self-controlled," or "sober," when he or she is not intoxicated with anything or anyone in this world. At all times we must have a sense of proportion and direction. In the midst of all the diversities and adversities of the present world, we may not forget that we live between Christ's coming in grace and his coming in glory.
To "live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age" requires constant training. Yet we don't acquire these virtues by self-improvement. "The grace of God ... teaches us." The grace that has appeared in the coming of Jesus brings not only forgiveness of our weakness but also vitamins for our growth.
