Do you know God’s will for you? Are you motivated to do God’s will? Do your people know God’s will for them? Are they motivated to do God’s will? We do well to read Titus 2:1-10 often. Those verses explain the what of God’s will in the lives of his people, and they include two motivating factors: 1. These instructions are in line with sound doctrine; and 2. These instructions will prevent the world from finding fault in God’s gospel. In verses eleven through fifteen, Paul shares even greater motivation. We do well to read these verses, ponder them, take them into our minds and hearts, and to pray them fervently.
11 Ἐπεφάνη γὰρ ἡ χάρις τοῦ θεοῦ σωτήριος πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις 12 παιδεύουσα ἡμᾶς, ἵνα ἀρνησάμενοι τὴν ἀσέβειαν καὶ τὰς κοσμικὰς ἐπιθυμίας σωφρόνως καὶ δικαίως καὶ εὐσεβῶς ζήσωμεν ἐν τῷ νῦν αἰῶνι, 13 προσδεχόμενοι τὴν μακαρίαν ἐλπίδα καὶ ἐπιφάνειαν τῆς δόξης τοῦ μεγάλου θεοῦ καὶ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ,
Translation: For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, discipling us, having said no to impiety and worldly desires, to live wisely, uprightly, and reverently in this current age, as we yearn for the blessed hope and the appearance of the glory of our great God, our Savior, Jesus Christ.
What motivates pastors to be the best spiritual shepherds they can be? What motivates the people we serve to serve as priests before God, “eager to do good works”? Answer: The first and second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ! Jesus appeared the first time as the embodiment of God’s grace. He came to save and redeem us. Jesus will appear a second time in glory to bring blessings beyond our capacity to imagine.
Jesus will come as the great God of all. He will come as our Savior. He will usher us into the very presence of God to live in beatific blessedness forever.
As we live between the first and second coming of Christ and as we ponder the meaning of those appearances, God motivates and equips us to say no to all sinful desires and impious behavior. Instead, we will pursue self-control, upright service to others, and reverent lives before God. In this sinful world we will serve as priests in the sight of God, eager to do what pleases him.
14 ὃς ἔδωκεν ἑαυτὸν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν ἵνα λυτρώσηται ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ πάσης ἀνομίας καὶ καθαρίσῃ ἑαυτῷ λαὸν περιούσιον, ζηλωτὴν καλῶν ἔργων.
Translation: He gave himself for us, in order to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people who are his very own, zealots for good works.
Verse 14 sings the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. He has redeemed us from lawlessness. The law of God no longer condemns us. Sin is no longer our master. Christ has purified us. He has removed our sin and guilt from us. We are no longer defiled by sin. Jesus has removed every wrinkle, stain, and spot. He did this by giving himself for us into death on the cross. What Jesus did for us on Good Friday has brought us forgiveness and eternal salvation. It also brings us “life”—a zealous life of good works, a self-controlled life, a righteous life, a reverent life.
15 Ταῦτα λάλει καὶ παρακάλει καὶ ἔλεγχε μετὰ πάσης ἐπιταγῆς· μηδείς σου περιφρονείτω.
Translation: These things you are to proclaim, encourage, and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
God’s word has rich meaning for us. It teaches us, encourages us, and reproves us. As spiritual shepherds for the flock we open our mouths to explain the “what” of godly living, to encourage and exhort God’s people to be motivated for such lives, and to reprove the opposition of the world and the sluggishness of the sinful flesh. We will speak with urgency, persistence, and confidence. We will speak with authority that comes from the message we proclaim and the great God who put it inside of us.
Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, thank you for teaching me the things you want me to believe and do. Motivate me by the good news about Jesus and guide me by your Word to teach, encourage, and rebuke the people entrusted into my spiritual care; for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
P.S. For further reading, we recommend Pres. emeritus David Valleskey’s recent book, The Splendid Task of the Ministry: A Pastoral Commentary on the Pastoral Epistles (NPH, 2023).