“To Titus, my true child in a common faith: grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.” – Titus 1:4

Scripture reading: Romans 10:5-21; Titus 1:1-4

Who is the gospel for? Some say Jews only (see 1:10). Some say only the super-enlightened (see 1 Cor. 3-4). Does it belong to those only who already possess it? Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Jesus said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17).

The faith is common to all of God’s chosen ones: Jews, Gentiles, male and female ,old and young, poor and rich, small and great, people who grew up in the church and people who did not; people with relatively clean backgrounds and people with messy ones. Titus was a Greek (see Galatians 2:3); yet he holds the faith in common with Paul. Both are saved by grace (see Acts 15:9-11).

Paul extends “grace and peace” to Titus from “God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.” This is a typical greeting. Just because it is typical does not mean it is without significance. Titus will need grace and peace; and so do we. We need grace to remain steadfast in Christian faith, knowledge and hope, to worship and fellowship with difficult people, to walk in godly ways and do good works. We need peace in Christ for our assurance (see 3:4-8), and to continue to live among ungodly people (see 1:10-16).

Suggestions for prayer

Pray for grace and peace from God for your day. Pray for your assurance of God’s grace, and for the Holy Spirit to help you live for God among ungodly people.

Rev. Todd De Rooy currently serves in Redeemer URC, in Orange City, Iowa. He has served there since being ordained in 2008. It is their earnest prayer that by the grace of God, they would renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.