Paul’s introduction in this letter to Titus is the most protracted introduction he gives other than his intro to Romans. In these verses he conveys to his young protege a confidence that it would do us well to emulate. The confidence was threefold:
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, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3 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…
He was confident in God’s purpose for his life – Is it even possible to know the purpose that God created us for? Paul certainly seems to think so. Servant of God. Apostle. Preacher. How do you discern God’s purpose? Do you have to have a Damascus Road experience like Paul did? I certainly hope not. And I certainly don’t think so. The answer to the question is a subject for another blog post – but suffice it to say that it starts with having an undeniable saving encounter with God that results in undeniable life transformation. Have you experienced both?
He was confident in God’s character – God does not lie! God keeps His promises! God manifests! Paul had certainly experienced his share of difficulties in life and yet through everything his faith in God never wavered because he was confident in God’s love, confident in God’s sovereignty, and confident that God would never ever leave him or forsake him. No matter what. When you have that kind of confidence you can endure whatever this world might throw at you. Do you have that kind of confidence?
He was confident in God’s Word – Truth matters! We live in a world where truth doesn’t really matter. Everybody has there own version of what truth is. The reason the world is in such a mess is because of a disregard for truth. If your truth is different than my truth then battle lines are drawn. But there is no such thing as your truth and my truth there is only God’s Truth. And this is what Paul based his life on. What about you? Is your life based on the inerrant truth of God’s unchanging Word?
May this brick help you to think about where your confidence is based.