Holding Fast to the Faithful Word

Holding Fast to the Faithful Word

Titus 1:5-9

In today’s passage, Paul gives Titus guidelines for selecting church elders. At the end of a list of desirable conduct and character traits is an essential qualification that applies to every believer: holding fast to Scripture. Like the first century elders, modern Christians must demonstrate unwavering commitment to God’s Word in order to nurture and guard the church.

We cannot use the Bible to defend our faith and assist others unless we study. And for its truth to be effective, we must apply them to our life.

Christians appreciate Scripture’s power to encourage, comfort, and heal, but too often we keep our knowledge to ourselves. We may feel uncertain about sharing, but God provides courage and brings to mind pertinent verses if we are willing to speak. As we practice His ways, our wisdom increases. We’ll begin to recognize hurting people and will learn how to exhort them in sound doctrine, as Paul suggests.

The apostles also bids believers to confront those who contradict true faith—this requires courage and discernment. When we study and live out sound biblical doctrine, we will quickly recognize false doctrine. And the better we know God’s Word, the more readily we can find passages to challenge counterfeit teachings and support our own beliefs.

We can’t all be elders in the church down the street, but each Christian is a member of God’s church. Our responsibility, then, is to gain biblical knowledge so that we can discern correct doctrine, defend our faith, and encourage the downhearted.

Daily Devotions with Dr. Charles Stanlley, InTouch Ministries