2 minute read.
Daily Reading: Jeremiah 51:54-52:34 ESV, Titus 3:1-15 ESV, Psalm 100:1-5 ESV, Proverbs 26:18-19 ESV
Daily Verse: “The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.” (Titus 3:8 ESV)
PROISTEMI (4291): “To practice, maintain.”[1]
Maintain practice.
Paul encourages Titus to help believers stay the course by devoting themselves to Christ’s teachings. Maintaining a steady relationship with Jesus requires practice, day in and day out.
Every expert started as a beginner. People become masters of their trade because they maintain practice over a long period. Any professional athlete has a minimum of 10,000 hours of training to achieve their level of success.
Sustained devotion takes support. Paul encourages Titus so that the missionary can encourage the members of his church, helping them sustain their commitment to God.
Ongoing transformation.
Journeying with Jesus means an ongoing transformation as you apply His teachings to your life. If you do what Christ teaches, you will become a person known for good works. Jesus brought unconditional love into the world; following Him means sharing the gift with others.
No two people’s practice looks the same. My daily devotion to God and how I connect with Him differs from how others do it. We shouldn’t try to all do the same thing because God created us as individuals. My gifts develop differently from others.
One of my accountability partners helps me maintain a regular exercise practice. We text each other when we complete our workout for the day. But neither of us does the same thing, her routine differs from mine, yet we achieve the same goal, developing healthy habits.
Develop a daily habit of connecting with God, whatever it looks like for you. Enlist others to help you maintain your efforts, encouraging each other along the way. Don’t conform to what others do; instead, let God transform you. Life change becomes evident in the good works we do.
[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 211) Thomas Nelson
