The need of the hour
In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely. And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us. Titus 2:6-8
“What was Paul’s strategy in the face of spreading error?” asks Christian apologist John Stott. “It was this: when false teachers increase, we must multiply the number of true teachers.” This is the need of the moment. That must be the strategy today. The great need of the hour is for the kind of sound, able, mature, and godly people. People as described as living worthy of God’s calling. “Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God” (Ephesians 4:1); Christ followers who are self-controlled, upright, and disciplined. They are living out the life God gave them, holding fast the truth and who are able to encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. And that being so, we need, among other things, earnestly to petition the Lord Jesus Christ, that He will raise up godly people in an age of abounding false teachings. Therefore, it is to Him that the church needs earnestly to look for the help it so desperately needs. This soundness in teaching has to be accompanied by a lifestyle that harmonizes with godly living. There has to be a seriousness about them that reflects the seriousness of life and the seriousness of the things of God. If we do, we will be worthy of respect and a strength to our family. We are to be known for sound judgment. This should be reflected in our lives. Our speech, our behavior, the decisions that we take, the counsel that we give, the responses that we make to various situations in life should reflect this sober-mindedness. Such attitude and lifestyle come from a healthy trust in God. Do you see the need of providing an example of godly influence? To provide a model of godly and mature Christian living that others can follow? Such conduct comes only from sound teachings we embrace. Let us aspire to be each and all of these things—worthy of respect, sober-minded, sound in faith, living a life worthy of God’s calling.
Blessings,
