More To Go

DEVOTION
TITUS
MORE TO GO
Titus 1:7-9
7 Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless — not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. 8 Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. 9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
NIV
So, yesterday was the bad and today the good, sounds like it should have been the good, bad and the ugly. Rather I must be found of guests, which actually I have mixed feelings about. Sometimes I think that is what we are supposed to do, have more guests into our home, demonstrate the Christian life, than there are times all I want to be is alone, just my family. Not sure if this is the idea here, or this is about guests in church. I think I love what is good, rather than what is bad. If I am a lover of good do I promote virtue? Maybe sometimes, but maybe not all the times and I wonder if that qualifies. I think I miss the mark on the self-controlled issue from time to time as well. I try to be self-controlled and not allow situations to dictate my attitudes and behavior, but not all the time, I have to admit. I think the Greek word carries more of an implication of being moderate in my opinions and passions and that I think I am not. Should I change? Is down wrong the opposite of upright? I think I can say I try with all my heart to observe the divine law of God as well as the laws of men, not the self-righteous regulations of men, but the laws of society. I endeavor to be acceptable to God, to be holy, but surely this cannot imply that a man can truly be completely free from all sin all the time, which would then make him a perfect man. Who can attain such status? If I am even to attempt such a lofty goal I absolutely need to be disciplined in my inner most being. I need to be able to master, control, curb and restrain all temptations all the time. A task designed for the Spirit, not for the flesh. I wonder if my heart is deceitfully wicked telling me I am alright when I am not, justify, rationalizing and excusing attitudes and behaviors which are not correct. It takes honest evaluation within and that is what all these devotions are about, making me contemplate regarding the truth. I truly believe I have no problem holding firm to the trustworthy message and I believe I spend time encouraging others with sound doctrine and I don’t think I have any issues with refuting those who oppose it, so all in all I am not too bad stacking up to this list, but I still have more to go.