Transformed to be gentle
Titus 3:1-7
3 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarrelling, to be gentle, and to show every courtesy to everyone. 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Saviour appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6 This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
In reading this passage, it is very important to get the flow of the argument.
Vs. 2 points to the fact that followers of Jesus are to speak well of others, avoid quarrelling, show courtesy to others, and to be gentle – why? Because (“For” vs. 3) we were once foolish, disobedient, “passing our days in malice and envy…hating one another.” So the followers of Jesus are to be gentle, showing courtesy, to others, knowing full well that the others to whom that gentleness is being shown are – malicious, envious, hateful people. We do that because we once were among the malicious, envious, hateful. We were like the people we are now called to show gentleness and courtesy towards. And Jesus “the goodness and loving-kindness of God” appeared among us and showed us gentleness, grace, mercy. So we who have received the mercy of God revealed to us in Jesus Christ, we are now to be those who show mercy and grace to those around us, including the malicious, envious, and hateful.
As vs. 7 says, the mercy and grace offered to us in Jesus makes us heirs, children of God – and children are to bear the marks of being the children of their parents. Having been saved by the grace of God, the mercy and gentleness we see in Jesus Christ, we are called to live that gentleness and mercy in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is in the business of transforming our lives – and as this passage makes clear that transformation is seen in us becoming gentler, more courteous, less quarrelsome. That such changes are just as much a work of the Holy Spirit transforming us, just as much a work of the Holy Spirit’s power, as are other things that seem more bigger and draw more attention. In the quiet ways of God, the Holy Spirit seeks to make us gentle and gracious like Jesus.
PRAYER:
O Lord, make us gentle. Bend our lives towards gentleness as we relate to people who are quarrelsome, envious, and even hateful. We rejoice that your grace and gentleness found us, transform our lives that we might live gentle lives towards others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.