Titus 3 People Matter Part 41

Titus 3:12-15

“12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. 14 And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.15 All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.”

You might be tempted to just skip over the final verses of the book of Titus, thinking that it's simply Paul’s typical greeting, but every word of the Bible is God-breathed and important. God has not designed us to live alone. People matter, fellowship matters. We matter to God, and He uses us for His purposes. There is nothing in the Bible that is small or insignificant. The Bible teaches us that the Creator preserves His people, and all things are used to further His will. God created you at the exact moment He desired, so that in Christ, through grace, by faith, you might do the good deeds that He set forth for you to do. In Christ, all our days will be good for someone or something. Isaiah 14:24 says, “The Lord of hosts has sworn: ‘As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand’.”

While Paul longed to see Titus, he knew he couldn’t leave the churches of Crete without leadership. It’s important to have leaders in the church, but as the body of Christ, every member is important. It’s interesting that of the four men mentioned, two are mentioned elsewhere in the Bible, but of the other two, we know nothing. But no one is a nobody in the family of God; our identity is found in being a child of God. The work of the kingdom of God is mostly done by people whose names are not widely known. Here, and in chapter 1, we see the importance of leadership in the church. We can also see the importance, not only for missionaries, but also of the need for and the people to support them. Throughout the book of Titus, Paul has also made it clear that taking care of those in need is important. There are no lesser members in the body of Christ. God has a plan and purpose for every one of us. Seek that purpose, continue in fellowship, and support your fellow members in the body of Christ. 

1. The Bible is full of verses that speak about God’s purpose and plans for us. Find a verse that speaks about God’s purpose. What can we learn from it?

2. The Old Testament tells us of many times when God preserved and saved His people. Think of an instance, and see what led to the circumstance and what God did to save His people. What can we learn from it?

3. Where else in the book of Titus does Paul talk about taking care of others? List as many as you can find.

4. Paul longed to see Titus. Fellowship is important, and there are those who often feel left alone. What can you do to increase the fellowship with the people in your church? Is there someone in your church who is lonely? What can you do to find these people? It may be that part of your purpose is reaching out to others.

Lord and Master of the universe, how great and awesome are Your works! I praise You and thank You for creating me and giving me a purpose. Help me to see this purpose and to strive to do the good works You have planned for me. Please forgive me when I fall short and make me new in the blood of Christ. In His name alone I ask all this, Amen.