At the right time

Greetings from Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I was sent to help God’s chosen people have faith and understand the truth that produces a life of devotion to God. This faith and knowledge make us sure that we have eternal life. God promised that life to us before time began—and God does not lie. At the right time, God let the world know about that life. He did this through the telling of the Good News message, and he trusted me with that work. I told people that message because God our Savior commanded me to. (Titus 1:1-3)

Sent to help God's chosen to have faith and understand the truth that produces a life of devotion to God. Maybe that mission is one we can carry on each day as we go about our business of 'living life together'. We may not have been called to form the New Testament churches like Paul was, but we have been called to help others grow in their faith and to come into a deeper understanding of God's truths. Why? God wants a people who are wholly devoted to him - heart, mind, and soul. Our 'mission' is to help others come into the knowledge of Christ's sacrificial offering on their behalf. We are to encourage one another, building up each other's faith, helping one another mature in this faith. The message of hope and salvation has been entrusted to us - what will we do with it?

At the right time... That time has come, the messenger today is you and me. The message is clear - all have sinned, no one is made right by his own actions to attempt to live right or 'do' right. We all stand in need of a Savior. We are all in need of God's grace - his forgiveness of our sins, the removal of the stain of that sin, and the grace to live 'beyond' that sin. Grace is the beginning of growth. Without grace, all 'growth' is nothing more than us trying to make ourselves 'right'. In the eyes of mankind, we may seem 'right', but in the eyes of God, all those 'actions' we go through to 'be made right' don't really add up to what Christ did for us on the cross. The only 'action' that makes us right with God is to welcome Jesus into our hearts.

In writing to the church at Crete, Paul is reminding them of the tremendous gift they have received. He wants them to come into the place of full knowledge and understanding, allowing their faith to continue to grow, developing into well-formed followers of Christ. We hear the Good News, then we allow it to begin to change the way we live. As it changes us, we are drawn toward the desire to share the good work that has been accomplished within our lives, wanting for others to share in this same life transformation. We have been trusted with that 'work', my friends. Never shy away from sharing the hope that lives within you. God had a purpose for leaving Titus in Crete - he has a purpose for placing you right where you are! Just sayin!