Jump Start # 2839

Titus 3:8 “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.”

  As with Timothy, Paul is showing Titus what is important in his work as a preacher. Here we find, “I want you to insist on these things.” To insist, means to stress or emphasize. This is what is important. This is at the top of the list. Insisting is the opposite of the spirit that says, “I’ll get around to it sooner or later.” Most times, it is later, much later. Insist is what Paul is driving at.

  Now some thoughts:

  First, built within insisting is making things clear. We can hide behind the generic and overload the mind with so much information and facts, that a person doesn’t know what is most important. I have sat through many sermons which were stuffed with all kinds of facts, but the lesson was so scattered, like chasing rabbits in field, that when it was over, I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do with it. What was the point? Insist by making clear statements that are the skeleton of your class, sermon or conversation. You may build around and upon that skeleton, but it is the skeleton that supports and holds everything together. Paul said, “Insist on these things.”

  Second, repeating comes with insisting. Our moms were great at that. We’d hear the same thing over and over. Sometimes we became weary of hearing it and we could finish her sentences before she did, but there was no mistaking what she was insisting upon. Home before ten meant BEFORE TEN. We got that. Putting on your seat belt, meant PUTTING IT ON. Our moms insisted.

  The same needs to be done spiritually. We do that for the little ones in their Bible classes. We repeat and repeat and repeat. They sing the same songs. They go through the same drills. But they learn. They get it. And, as adults, we too often want only to hear new things in new ways. If the preacher announces his sermon will be on “Baptism,” some will groan. “Heard that before,” they’d say. But the repeating and the insisting go together.

  Third, insisting helps us with our priorities. So many things to do in a day. So many places to go. Pick this up. Get this. Go there. Those that are organized do well. Those that aren’t waste a lot of time. Insisting upon what is important spiritually helps us get our order in order. The Pharisees in Jesus’ day were pretty good at looking good, at least on the outside. Their insides were a mess. Jesus compared them to unwashed dishes, and dead bodies in a cemetery. The Pharisees didn’t have the right priorities. We can do the same. We can assemble on a Sunday, looking good, but have a miserable and sour attitude about us. We can walk into the building and immediately start complaining. It’s too hot or it’s too cold. Someone is in my seat. This isn’t right and I don’t like that. And, after an hour we can go home, bothered, unhinged, and forgetting that we have been in the presence of God Himself. We sang, but we forgot to praise. We bowed our heads, but we never prayed. He read verses, but they never touched our hearts. We can feel satisfied and even justified that we got up and went to church services, while most of the world stayed in bed. We can feel pretty good about those things. But what we’ve missed is the most obvious, the Lord. How can we complain when we are standing upon a mountain of blessings? How can we judge others when the Holy God is before us?

  What is important, “going to church,” or, worshipping God? What is important, reading some verses or allowing the word of God to dwell within our hearts? Insisting upon the purpose of worship, will help us with what is really important. Distractions, commotions, a host of other things can grab our attention, but realizing what is “insisted” upon, will turn our eyes back where they belong, upon the Lord.

  Just what is it that the Lord wants from you today? Mow the yard. Take the dog to the vet. Get the oil changed. Pay bills. Call mom. Clean the house. Go to work. Play with the kids. And, at the end of the day, tired, we fall into bed. Have we accomplished what was most important? Insist upon those things.

  Finally, we have a tendency to remember what has been insisted upon. The Lord’s death is important. It’s very important. It’s what the Bible is all about. And, of all the things the Lord wants us to remember, every week, we are to gather and participate in His death and resurrection. The Lord’s Supper is something God insists upon. He doesn’t say remember this when you can. He doesn’t say, once in a while make this a priority. Those first Christians were remembering the Lord’s death every week. God insisted upon that. We are always only a few days away from that death. That death changed everything. That death crushed Satan. That death opened the doors of Heaven. That death forgave us. That death left footprints for us to follow. That death changed our eternity. Important? Extremely. Most important. So important, that God insists upon us remembering it.

  Now, you and I may get the Minor Prophets jumbled up in our minds. I was driving with my little granddaughter the other day and she asked me what the second plague in Egypt was. I know the plagues. I know where to find them in the Bible. But which one was number two? Important stuff, but not nearly as important as why am I following Jesus? Why am I His disciple? Why did He die for me? So many important things, but insist upon the most important. Mary and Martha remind us of this. Feeding Jesus is a great thing to do. But sitting at his feet listening to Him, is even more important.

  Insist on these things…

 Roger

Jump Start # 2838

Titus 3:13 “Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing.”

  I just love the language of our verse today. You run across little gems like this throughout the Bible. “Speed Zenas the lawyer…on his way.” Other versions express this as: “Diligently help Zenas,” or, “Help Zenas the lawyer.” Speed him on his way. We’d say, “Get going.”

This is something every parent deals with, often, every day. The little ones can sure be slow about getting about what needs to be done. Hurry up. Let’s go. Or, in the language of our verse, “speed” him on his way. Sunday mornings can be pure chaos. Looking for shoes, getting everyone loaded up, and then someone has to go to the bathroom. Oh, I remember those days. Speeding them up sure is hard.

There were real reasons why Paul needed to put some fire under Zenas to get him going. There were seasons to travel. Paul’s trip to Rome illustrates that. Sailing at the wrong time can be disastrous. Churches were needing leaders and teachers. Like a city without walls, many of those young congregations were vulnerable to error and they needed help and they needed it right now. Speed Zenas on his way.

Now, here are some thoughts for us:

First, the lack of speed can be perceived as doing nothing. On the outside, some may think nothing is being done, but what isn’t known is all the conversations, meetings and studies that the shepherds have regarding that issue. I’ve had people say, “Why aren’t the elders doing anything about this?” Thinking that there was a lack of speed on their part. But, for months and months, they have been working and working on things that the rest of the congregation never realized or saw.

Second, problems do not solve themselves. This is true in life and this is true spiritually. A leaky roof, an engine problem in your car, just doesn’t go away and it doesn’t improve. And, by putting things off, little things can become so complicated and so major that all our efforts and energy are poured that direction. Spiritually, some like putting off making a decision and a commitment to the Lord. Saul of Tarsus was told, “Why do you delay?” That same person, would later write the Corinthians, “Today is the day of salvation.” Putting things off, the ole’ procrastination, is such an easy place to get to, but it allows too many little things to become big things. We may not want to have that “Come to Jesus” talk with a teen, or our mate, or a member in the congregation. We dread it, so we kick that can down the road. We put it off. And, by the time we are ready to talk, they no longer are wanting to listen. Paul’s words, “as we have opportunity, let us do good…” That opportunity doesn’t always fit well with our schedule. And, by the time our schedule is ready, that door of opportunity has closed and that ship has sailed.

Speed Zenas on his way!

Third, the lazy bone seems to be a very common part of many folks. It is interesting how often the apostles would use expressions such as “be diligent,” to emphasize the importance of getting about the most important things. Priorities can sure get out of order sometimes. We allow life to push the valuable spiritual needs to the background of our hearts. The sluggard or slothful person doesn’t get good praise in the book of Proverbs. Too lazy to take of his place, and the weeds take over. Too lazy to take care of our homes and hearts and sin takes over. Those little ones grow fast. Life moves fast. A man in his 40’s, thinks someday as he nears retirement, he’d like to do more for the congregation. He’d like to teach more. He’d like to serve as one of the shepherds. But, that lazy bone takes over and the next thing he knows, he is retired and he hasn’t put in the time to know God’s word and he hasn’t demonstrated the qualities of godly leadership that he could have all along. He has simply not developed as he should have and now, when he wants to, he is not ready.

It’s easy for a preacher to be lazy. But in time it will show. Rather than hitting the books, he’s doing other things. Rather than working hard, he’s taking things easy.

Speed Zenas on his way!

A wonderful little expression takes us to so many great spiritual lessons. Speed Zenas on his way.

Roger