James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
We need to choose our words carefully. they have the power to show the love of God to all people or to dishonor His creation that He so loved. John 3:16
Romans 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.
Our prayers are powerful weapons for good. In taming our tongues and exercising self control, we allow our faith in God’s love for His creation, to cover a multitude of sin. Mankind has forgotten that only God is in control and we are required to walk humbly with Him. The way of Christ came with shouts of peace, peace to the people on earth. Christ compels us as believers to include all of the marginalized…the poor, the foreigner, the fatherless, in our prayers and in our good works. In Christ there is neither male nor female, slave nor free, Jew nor Gentile. We are to love others as much we do ourselves. We are all sinners in need of repentance. None of us are righteous and our only hope is that we live in the righteousness of Jesus Christ who overcame the sins of the world. We need to pray for our families, our Church and those who are in power that all may heed the guidance of Holy Spirit in the ways of Jesus and His peace and reconciliation that He offers to ALL of us. Carla
Titus 3:9-11 But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. 10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.
This seems to primarily reference the problems the false teachers were causing. Titus is instructed to oppose these false teachers but should not allow for their controversies to dictate his agenda. This also seems to be a broad reference to controversies that are unprofitable in terms of the gospel reaching more people (1 Timothy 6:4).
Controversies and quarrels do not stir God’s people to good works. Faithlife Study Bible
Paul was admonishing Titus to avoid anything that would promote wickedness among the believers. Reject a divisive man. Titus was to cut off the church’s relationship with any person who would not submit to correction after two warnings (2 Thessalonians 3:14, 15). The Greek word for warped here suggests that Satan is perverting this person. Sinning indicates that the man will not change his ways and thus continues to rebel against God. The NKJV Study Bible
2 Timothy 2:14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.
1 Timothy 1:4 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.
2 Timothy 2:16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.
Matthew 18:15–17 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’…
The Greek word for "self-controlled" in Titus 2:6 is sophroneo. It means "to be of sound mind, to exercise wisdom and prudence, to take life seriously, and to curb one's passions."
Someone demonstrating self-control shows rational and sensible thinking, which in turn influences their attitude and behaviors. For young believers especially, taking life seriously would mean building a strong, trustworthy, God-honoring reputation and resisting immature impulses.Sophroneo behavior would give opponents no cause to criticize them (Titus 2:8).
Rather than seeking to fulfill fleeting pleasures, believers are to be alert, ready for action, and mindful of eternity (1 Peter 1:13). Self-control also empowers us to fight spiritual battles against Satan and his destructive plans (2 Corinthians 10:3-5; 1 Peter 5:8). Paul wanted the Cretan church's young men to overcome temptation, lead victorious lives, and shine like lights in the spiritual darkness around them (Matthew 5:16). And we can do the same.Through self-control, we can say "no" to attitudes and behaviors that are contrary to God's Word, like immorality, lying, selfishness, and more, to lead victorious Christian lives.
Finally, Paul told Titus to "urge" believers to practice self-control (Titus 2:6). In the original language, this word is parakaleo, which carries the idea of coming alongside and encouraging someone to take action, especially in the face of difficulty. The verb tense also denotes ongoing activity, meaning Titus was to speak continually about self-control.This wasn't a "one and done" lecture.
Parakaleo also infers compassion, as we see in verses like John 14:16, which describes God Himself as a "Helper" or parakleton.
The young men might turn a deaf ear to Titus if he barked at them, but they would be more apt to listen and benefit if he used kind words and also modeled what he was teaching them (Titus 2:7; Proverbs 10:8; Proverbs 10:17).
This instruction to exercise self-control applies to us all. May we learn to approach life with godly wisdom, thereby honoring the Lord, setting a good example, and reflecting Him to those around us. First5
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