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| Lois Murphy A Wayfarer Pauses... Mining for Gold
I honestly and firmly believe that it is not possible for me to come to Scripture without being able to learn something new, no matter how many times I have
come to a particular passage. The probable main reason for that is that I am not the same
person when I come again to that passage. Time has intruded itself; new experiences have taken place; new understandings are mine. I should have grown in Christ.
In my quiet time the other morning, I was reading in the book of Titus, written by Paul
who had left Titus to get things in order in Crete. Poor Titus! He had his work cut out for
him; the Cretans had a BAD reputation in the world; “liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons,” even “according to one of their own prophets” (Titus 1:12).
My Bible was open to one page, covering 2:13 to the end of the book. I had never seen this before, but FIVE TIMES on that one page, Paul brings up good deeds. He had already said on the previous page that, true to their reputation as liars, the Cretan Christians denied God by their deeds; “worthless for any good deed,” is how he describes them.
I scribbled down in a little book things about good works that struck me as I read.
1. Though they are necessary to exhibit faith in Christ, they are not able to earn salvation. Salvation comes from God’s mercy, the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, “NOT on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness” (Titus 3:5).
2. Thus cleansed and PREPARED, (see II Tim. 2:21), in Titus 2:14, Paul says that Christ
has PURIFIED for Himself, a people “zealous for good works.” I see that good deeds are the mark of a Christian.
3. Thus PURIFIED and PREPARED, I see that we must be “careful to engage in good
deeds,” because, “these things are good and PROFITABLE for men” (Titus 3:8).
4. Good works are a way of life for the Christian, not a one-time event. PERSISTENCE is required, “ready for every good work,” says Titus 3:1.
5. Engaging in good deeds is a learned PROCESS, “to meet PRESSING needs” (Titus 3:14).
So the next time we (you and I) come with a sigh and a sense of duty to Scripture, remember that, “Thar’s gold in them thar hills,” if we’re willing to dig. Interact with Lois Murphy's article below. Your submission may be posted here on the website.
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