A Reminder in Humility
A Reminder in Humility: You aint all that!
Titus 3:2-8
Remind them to…show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. (Titus 3:1-8 ESV)
Reading the words the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to say to his apprentice, Titus, this afternoon I was painfully surprised! As I read the words Paul reminded Titus to show perfect courtesy toward all people. At face value this doesn’t mean much to me honestly….for all I know this could be on a fortune cookie! But I’d be ignorant to leave you hanging just with this thought.
We are reminded to show perfect courtesy toward all people for a very hidden and unsearchable reason….*whispering* because there was a time where we were once sinners. AAHHHH!!! I know I know! I’m sorry to break the news to you! But really! What a basic… elementary… simple truth! Yet, for some reason there have been times where you and me walk with our Master and Savior, Jesus, that we are just too doggone sophisticated, spiditual and tick-tack-toe with our spidituality (ya I said ‘spiditual’) that we just don’t seem to agree with this. Lemme paint you a picture of what this could look like…
Exhibit A: Judging a non-Christian for their non-Christian actions. We sit in line eaves dropping in on two dudes talking about a woman like a woman’s only purpose is to be his next nightly pleasure-toy and we’re shocked that non-Christian men are talking about non-Christian things! Oh good heavens you spiritual all star! Love the Hell outta the men if you’re so “righteously angry” and make a name for Christ in their life…maybe the Holy Spirit is at work in those hearts regenerating something that will one day receive a “Welcome home son!” from the Father!
Exhibit B: Condescending on a Christian for not knowing something that by the Lord’s grace you or me may happen to know. Even God Himself won’t judge us for not knowing all the answers! We are told, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5 ESV)
So we’re reminded “to show perfect courtesy toward all people” because here’s the list why…it’s like a very real reminder of that one time when we were once…
A. foolish
B. disobedient
C. led astray
D. slaves to various passions and pleasures
E. passing our days in malice and envy
F. hated by others and hating one another.
Good news though! Great news actually! This is what once were and it’s “not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (vv. 6-7) Because of this justification we've received, because we were once sinners condemned as children of wrath and not of salvation (Eph. 2:3-6) and were saved from that wrath not by our own all-thatness but by the ever all-that mercy of God and His washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit let us not "think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned" (Romans 12:3) and show perfect courtesy like our Master and Savior Jesus did toward all people!