For years, Titus followed Paul. He traveled with him, studied with him and learned from him. Paul is the model of a Christ-follower. Only Jesus would be better. Thankfully, Paul had only one intention with Titus. To show him Jesus. We have a word for this process. Discipleship.
We are first introduced to Titus in Galatians. Then a young Christian, he traveled with Paul teaching the gentiles. Since he, himself, was a Gentile, he was the perfect example of how salvation is available to everyone. This was just the beginning for Titus. As his faith grew, so did his responsibility. Under Paul’s guidance, he mastered Biblical principles and proved his reliance on the Holy Spirit. This is why Paul recognized him as a leader. Discerning that he was ready for more, Paul challenged him to lead.
To help prepare Titus, Paul wrote the letters that we now read as the book of Titus. They are his instruction. You see, Paul was sending Titus to the churches in Crete. He would be their leader. This was no small assignment. Titus would need to appoint and guide strong leaders for the church (Titus 1:6-9). Once in place, Titus was instructed to teach the people. They needed a wise leader that knew the Biblical principles of marriage, Christian living, and good works. Clearly this is a huge undertaking. Thanks to strong leaders like Paul, Titus is able to take on this huge role. It was his discipleship that propelled him. More importantly, it was his discipleship that enabled the Church to be Spirit-led and God-honoring.
I have two big questions from Titus. First, who is discipling us? Do you have someone that encourages you in the Way of Christ? Maybe it’s your pastor, maybe a good friend. Take a minute to reflect on the way Paul discipled Titus. First, he was an example. then, he encouraged and finally, he challenged. The evidence of Titus growth from Paul was obvious. Your growth from your discipler should be obvious too.
The second question is related to the first. Who are you discipling? Titus accepted Paul’s challenge because it was his duty as a Christ-follower. It is ours too (Matt 28:19). What is your challenge? How can you server or who can you a disciple? It might look like serving in the nursery, or joining a small group. Perhaps, you’ve participated in a group for a long time. Now, it is time to lead one. There are countless ways to serve Jesus. I know that you have heard him calling. Answer him today.