I left you in Crete for this reason, that you would set in order the things that were lacking and appoint elders in every city, as I directed you Titus 1:5 WEB
With this statement, Paul explains why he left Titus In Crete. Both Paul and Titus evangelized the Cretans. Paul left Titus in Crete to establish order in a very disorderly society. To combat the environment of corruption that pervaded Certan society, Paul instructed Titus to carefully select and appoint elders in every city. Listing the godly traits of honesty, sober mindedness, hospitality, and fairness, Paul implores Titus to select as elders in every city men who strictly adhere to the gospel message of Christ.
Paul stressed to Titus the importance of promoting people who demonstrate the righteousness of God to influential church leadership positions. He writes in Titus 1:15-16, “To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. They profess that they know God, but by their deeds they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work. WEB”
Fit for Service
In addition, Paul contrasts those fit for service with the unfit. He writes in Titus 1:10-12, “For there are also many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped: men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for dishonest gain’s sake. One of them, a prophet of their own, said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and idle gluttons.’ WEB”
To protect the church from the corruption in Crete, Paul directed Titus to appoint righteous elders in every city. With God fearing, genuinely repentant servants of Christ serving as elders in every city, the church would be a beacon of truth and a ray of light in the midst of a society in need of order and instruction in righteous living. Due to the godly influence of Paul, Titus, and the elders in every city, the transformative message of the gospel spread throughout all of Crete.
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for the order you bring to life. Thank you for the example of those who truly follow Christ. Guide me to do your will. Help me to live my life in a way that pleases you. In Jesus name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: Well Advanced in Years
