Heralds Digest

"Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say." (Philemon 1:21 NKJV) Leaders have the floor to speak most of the times; but whether followers listen most of these times depend on the leader's ability to manage his privileges. The beauty of leadership is obviously not in the exercise of the authority to speak. Rather, leadership provides the opportunity to build trust and confidence which guarantees attention. Paul's confidence in the obedience of Philemon is built on the acknowledgment of the leader's sacrifices, rather than the leader's privileges. Privileges come and are gone, but sacrifices remain the best and lasting way of utilizing the leader's advantage.

"I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me." (Philemon 1:10-11 NKJV) There are always great expectations from every possible convocation of convenient appointments. Whereas profits are almost certain under such circumstances, the results are not necessarily the best possible, given the prior expectations. The appointment of a runaway Onesimus with the incarcerated Paul was probably one with the highest experience of inconvenience in their respective lifetime. Yet, it ended up the most profitable appointment. Often time, our disappointments in life can be a divinely-staged appointment for an enduring profit.

"But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless". (Titus 3:9 NKJV) Every attempt from human efforts in life does not always lead to the desired profit; but none of human engagements is unprofitable, as long as clear goal is focused. Unfortunately, many of human engagements with divine assignment can be unproductive and irrelevant. Striving about an established existence, consistency, and sufficiency of God will lead anyone to nowhere. Titus needed to be wary of the strategy of the enemy to distract away from useful engagements, which are capable of rescuing souls from the pit of sin. Spiritual engagement on a physical might produces a double jeopardy for both the body and the soul.

"This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men." (Titus 3:8 NKJV) If only a good turn deserves another, good works will definitely be impossible to maintain in our human world. Where most of human actions are influenced by the attitude of others, whose intentions are mostly perceived to be negative, little wonder why the maintenance of good works is always a mirth. However, it is still possible for all to keep their beliefs in God, as the only Rewarder of good works. Unlike actions that are influenced by the attitude of people, only actions that are packaged as gratitude to God's goodness are profitable to all men. Human world is turned paradise, whenever glorious altitude is attained with gracious attitude.

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age." (Titus 2:11-12 NKJV) The church is not in the edifice that makes a cathedral, but in the environment where sound doctrine mixes perfectly with sound faith. This implies that a church is expected to be a place where sincere truth and saving grace represent the two inseparable doses for seekers of godliness and righteousness. Unfortunately, a church that emphasizes truth without grace produces hypocrites; while grace without truth maketh a hardened sinner. Only a sound church embraces and maintains the perfect balance between saving grace and godly teaching in the making of godliness and righteousness.

"They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work." (Titus 1:16 NKJV) The knowledge of God represents a precious opportunity to understand the character of God. But beyond the knowledge of His character is the acknowledgement of the charisma of God, that is, His workings towards us. For example, God is not just holy, He maketh holy. This implies that anyone who claims the knowledge of God's holiness, but deny His power to make him holy, truly lacks faith in God. There is a divine power that draws everyone that relate with God, from where the seeker used to be, into the presence of God. Summarily, sound faith believes in divine reset into the original default of the character of God.

"...holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict." (Titus 1:9 NKJV) There are several scriptural subjects that border on cultural lifestyles and circumstantial setting of divers races. The leading of the Holy Spirit is key, especially when the guidance of seekers on extra-doctrinal issues is cogent. However, faithful words are based on the teaching of sound biblical principles. Titus needed to ensure that only those who keep these sound doctrinal principles are appointed to leadership positions in the ministry. Likewise, the church today is in dear need of clergy, who can hold fast on sound doctrine, without the fear of losing ground.