A Daily Walk

Guest (Male): Have you ever thought of your life as a sermon? You should. Here's Pastor John Randall.

John Randall: Every single person in this room, in the courtyard, in the fellowship hall, online, wherever you are listening, every single person is a living sermon. You're a living sermon. People may not come in and sit in this room and listen to what you're listening to or watch this later on, but people will watch your life. You are a living sermon. Paul made that very clear in writing to the Corinthians. Second Corinthians chapter 3, verse 2, when he said these words: "You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men."

Some people would never read Paul's epistles. You may be the only Bible that somebody ever reads. You are a living epistle, known and read by all men. And what people know about Jesus, they know about Jesus because of the impression that you leave concerning him. The way that you live, the way that I live my life.

Guest (Male): With biblical truths you can take in and apply to your daily walk, this is A Daily Walk with John Randall. Thanks for dropping by. Head over to Titus chapter 2 if you would. We've got a great time in the Word lined up for you today. Whether we're at home or on the job, we're to live what we believe. When others look at our lives, they should see Jesus. Pastor John will explain what that looks like in our daily walk in the minutes ahead. He starts off with a word to the ladies and then the young men.

John Randall: For the ladies that are out here, there is so much pressure on the woman today to be this, to look like that, to have your face look like this, to have this. You know, it's just out there. It's everywhere. You go to the grocery store and it's like how to be awesome in 10 ways. You just think, "I want to be awesome." And then it's how to have your hair look and remain. Whatever it is that you guys do or what you look at, it's there. I try to avoid those things. I don't want to know about that.

All this pressure to be this and be that. Then you've got all these things that you could easily watch and entertain, which only can really end up stirring up an impure or ungodly fascination. Stay away from that. Stuff like The Bachelor and dumb stuff like that. That is just ridiculous. I don't watch it, but I know about the context. Stay away from that stuff. Desperate this and desperate that. You don't need to be watching any of that nonsense. That stuff is garbage. Don't be getting those cheesy magazines by Oprah that are talking about all these kinds of terrible things. Be chaste. That was the word we were looking at.

Also a homemaker. A homemaker working at home, taking care of your family, loving your husband, loving your children. That is commendable. That's a blessing. I personally am thankful that my wife makes our home a refuge for me and for our children. It's a blessing. It's something that I praise God for on a regular basis. I'm very thankful for that and to have that opportunity.

Ladies, I want to say this to you too this morning: don't ever think that because you stay home with your children or you choose to raise them in that way, and you've had to make sacrifices financially or where you live because you wanted to, don't ever think that you're less of a person because of that, because you're not. That is something that is commendable.

Granted, not every woman has that opportunity. Sometimes you have to work outside the home, and then you come home and take care of the kids. That's even a double job that you have, and that's hard work. Then you've got to drop them off at school and maybe you go to work, and then you pick them up and all of that. But ideally, it's a blessing if you're able to stay at home with your kids and to raise them in the Lord.

There were times in our own family when we were starting out in the ministry that we could barely make any money. It was just crazy. But I was determined to have my wife stay home with our kids. So there was a time when I worked two jobs, and then two became three jobs, and then another child on the way. It was just difficult to do that, but I felt like it was worth it for us, and God used that.

There are sacrifices you make, but it's an investment in the life of your kids, and it pays large dividends later on. So don't be afraid to do that. Maybe you've been pushed into this idea that you've got to have this great corporate job and be making more than your husband, and that might be true. But make sure that you don't neglect those precious gifts that you have, which are your children. They're only there for a short amount of time that you have to be able to invest in them. So it's important to be a homemaker.

It adds here, "obedient to their own husbands." Now, of course, that's in the confines of that which is biblical, that which is not outside of God's Word and God's will. But to be obedient means that you understand that there is an order within the home. You have Jesus, you have the husband who is submitted to Jesus, and you have the wife who is submitted to her husband and submitted to Jesus. There's just an order within the home.

As long as we will abide by the order that God has set up within the home, the home can be a blessing. It's when that gets out of order, when the husband's not submitted to Jesus, then the wife's not submitted to her husband, and the children aren't submitted to the parents, that things can go awry really quickly. This is the order they have to understand. This is for the younger women within the congregation.

What is the benefit of living this way? He tells us the word of God will not be blasphemed. People aren't going to be able to look at our marriages and our lives and blaspheme the word of God by the way that we're living, which contradicts God's Word. God's Word won't be blasphemed; it'll be glorified because people will see that it's real in our life and in our homes and in our marriages and in our life before the Lord.

Now Paul addresses the young men. It's interesting: one command. Listen up, young men. Likewise, verse 6, exhort the young men to be sober-minded. Is that it? If they could do that, just that one thing, it would affect everything else. To be sober-minded means they're to be sensible, to think before they do things. Have this mindset. I can remember as a younger man being asked this question many times: "What were you thinking?" And I realize now that I wasn't thinking when I did that.

Young men, we just do things without thinking, just impulsive. "Why did you jump off that roof?" "To see if how high I could..." "What were you thinking? Why did you do that? Why did you drive the car that way?" "I wanted to see if the speedometer actually went that fast. I didn't know. It said a hundred and something, and I didn't know if it actually did it or not, and I had to find out." Why didn't you think before you did that? Why did you get that particular tattoo? "I don't know. I liked the colors, and I just felt that this would be good."

You've got to think before you ink, as I like to say, because something is going to happen later on in life. True story: I was back in Florida just recently at a dinner party, and there's an older gentleman sitting with us. He's like 70-something. I don't know how the subject of tattoos came up, and he said, "I got a tattoo." I said, "You do?" He says, "Yeah, it's right here," and he rolled it up. I looked on his arm and said, "What is that?" It was a black dot. It was just this huge spot. You couldn't tell what it was. He said it was a panther. The panther got run over by a truck because you couldn't even tell what it was.

So what I'm saying is think about these things before you do them. As a younger man, just be sober-minded. Just start there and watch what God will do. Paul exhorted Timothy, a young man, in Second Timothy chapter 2, verse 22. He said, "Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." Peter exhorted the young men in First Peter chapter 5, and he says, "Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

Here's Titus with this job description of keeping all of these groups in line, holding them accountable, exhorting them in this area, and encouraging people in that area. And yet Titus also had the responsibility not only to exhort others but to heed his own exhortation. Titus wasn't simply to preach to the congregation; Titus was to model for the congregation these very things that he was exhorting them to follow.

That is why Paul now gives to Titus some important instruction about being an example. In verse 7: "In all things show yourself to be a pattern of good works." The word "pattern," Titus of course being a young man himself, the word "pattern" is the Greek word *typos*, and it means and is derived from something that makes a visible mark or an impression by an instrument, such as a pen or a hammer or a knife. It makes an impression.

Titus was to live his life in such a way that he made an impression upon the people who were around him. Prayerfully, it was the impression of Jesus. That's the mark that he would leave, the marks of Christ. That people would see something's different about this young man. What is it? It's Jesus. Paul was fond of using this word. In fact, in writing to the Philippians in Philippians chapter 3, verse 17, he said, "Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern," *typos*, same word.

Again, this time Paul writing to Timothy, First Timothy chapter 4, verse 12, when he said to him, "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example," same word, "to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity." The Apostle Peter, who addressed the pastors and warned them as they oversaw the work of the ministry, used this same word in First Peter chapter 5, verse 3, when he said, "Nor as being lords over them of those who are entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock." Be a pattern. Leave an impression that they will be able to follow. A pattern.

What kind of impression are you leaving upon people who know you? Is it the impression of Jesus? Do they walk away from conversation with you, do they walk away from time spent with you, and there is an impression that has been made upon them? The Bible tells us that we're ambassadors for Christ, which means we represent him. And when you represent someone else, first impression is very important. What kind of impression am I making when I come in contact with people? What am I leaving them with?

It was Charles Spurgeon who made this comment concerning this point: "A man's life is always more forcible than his speech. When men take stock of him, they reckon his deeds as dollars and his words as pennies. If his life and doctrine disagree, the man's onlookers accept his practice and they reject his preaching." What he says, and this is the emphasis, you're finding this is the theme, one of the themes throughout Titus, is that believers are to live what they believe. Not just to say it, but to live it.

Paul becomes a little more specific with Titus as to how he's to be an example. Notice he says in verse 7, "In doctrine," that is in your teaching, "showing integrity." Now I can teach you something, but there's also something I can teach you in doctrine, but I also must be able to show you doctrine. How would I show you doctrine? By living it in front of you. Titus was in doctrine, in his teaching, to show people integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, speech that could not be condemned.

First of all, he was to have integrity, which means there is purity. It's used here in the New Testament meaning not corrupted. It describes a moral earnestness about Titus's life in the way that he lives and what he preaches. Integrity. Are we people of integrity? Do people know us for being that? Also, he is to model reverence, that is a respect for God's Word in front of God's people and also in his life. A respect for God. Reverence.

And then incorruptibility within his speech, in the doctrine that he presents. It means just what it says, incorruptible. There's nothing corrupt about what he's presenting. Let me just make this point on this: it's really important. There is this unhealthy and, I believe, ungodly trend that seems to be making its way into the church in certain places where men who get behind a pulpit and get up to present doctrine use foul language to make a point.

I think there is nothing more deplorable than that as a pastor, to use profane language and attach it to the Word of God. You're going to be held accountable for that. And I would say moreover using words that sound like profane words that could be... did he say what I think he said? No, he didn't say that one. It sounds like it, but it's not. Stay away from that. Have no incorruptibility within your speech, especially within presenting the Word of God. The Bible says in Ephesians chapter 4, verse 29, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but what is good and necessary edification, that it might impart grace to the hearers."

How much more should that be attached to the presentation of the Word of God? Don't use those kinds of words. Don't use that kind of language. It sets a poor example for your congregation. It sets a poor example for these younger people that are looking up to you, older people who are following your example. Be a pattern. Be sound, incorruptible, reverent with integrity in presenting doctrine.

These were to be the marks of the life of Titus and the pastors among the churches. They weren't perfect. No pastor is perfect anymore than the congregation that he pastors is perfect. We're all flawed people, but we ought to seek to be an example to others around us, to live what it is that we say we believe. An example of Jesus.

It was Warren Wiersbe that made this comment: he said that a church will never rise above its leadership, never rise any higher than its leadership. How important it is, whether you're leading in the church, whether you're leading outside of the church, that you set the pace. As a believer, as a Christian, the only way I'm going to be a good leader is if I'm a good follower. I've learned that. Only being a good leader by being a good follower of Jesus. As I follow Jesus, I'm able to lead others by pointing them to Jesus.

Every single person in this room, in the courtyard, in the fellowship hall, online, wherever you are listening, every single person is a living sermon. You're a living sermon. People may not come in and sit in this room and listen to what you're listening to or watch this later on, but people will watch your life. You are a living sermon. Paul made that very clear in writing to the Corinthians. Second Corinthians chapter 3, verse 2, when he said these words: "You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men."

Some people would never read Paul's epistles. You may be the only Bible that somebody ever reads. You are a living epistle, known and read by all men. And what people know about Jesus, they know about Jesus because of the impression that you leave concerning him. The way that you live, the way that I live my life.

Titus was to be an example. It would not only help the believers, but it would also silence the critics. They wouldn't have anything evil to say. The opponents of the ministry, why? Because it wouldn't stand. If you live in this way with integrity before God and reverence and incorruptibility, all of these things, sound doctrine, if that's part of your life, the critics are going to oppose you all the time. But whatever they say, you just outlive it because you're committed to the word of God and you're willing to do what God's Word says regardless of what critics might say. You just live for Christ. As long as you take care of your relationship with the Lord, he'll take care of your reputation before people.

Also, he now moves to looking at servants and masters. Beginning in verse 9, he says, "I want you to exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well-pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things."

Within the Roman Empire, there were many who were slaves, and they would do the work for the Romans. In fact, at one point in history, all of the slaves would wear the exact same garments so that you would be able to tell whether or not they were a slave. But the Romans realized that the numbers of slaves were so great that they might see that they had... they could put together an army and perhaps overthrow or fight against. So they stopped having them wear all the same garments.

Slaves basically were property of their masters in those days. Some of them were treated well; many of them were not treated well. And many of the slaves in the first century ended up being born again. One example of this in your Bible would be the book of Philemon, where there's a man whose name was Onesimus, who gave his life to Christ, got saved, met Paul while Paul was in prison, and then went back to his owner, who was a believer named Philemon. You can read about that. It's one chapter. You'll love it. It's a great book of the Bible.

But many of these slaves were born again, and they were then free in Christ. There's neither slave nor free; they're all one in Christ. So they had this freedom in the Lord, but that didn't mean that they didn't need to be obedient to the masters that they were serving under. Now again, we don't have slaves in this context, but let's put it in the context that we do have: employers and employees.

If you work a job, you work for someone. And so let's say in this context, if you're working for somebody, how is the Christian, how is the believer to live their life on the job? What should it be like tomorrow when you go in and clock in on Monday morning? How should you live?

First of all, they should be obedient to their own masters. On the job, you're to do what you've been asked to do unless it's unethical, unbiblical, immoral. That's where you draw the line. But if you're asked to do something, you follow directions. You don't cut corners if the boss says do it this way. You don't say, "I'm not going to do it that way. I'm going to do it this way," and you do your own thing. You're to be obedient in this respect.

Sometimes people don't do what they're asked to do, and then when they get held accountable for why they didn't do it, they just feel persecuted. No, no, no. He asked you to do this; you want to do it, even if it's not your favorite part of the job. You have certain aspects of your job that you don't find the most enjoyable. I have that in my own life. I'm not telling you what they are. But you know what I mean. There are certain things about the job you think this is part of it. Not this, this is great. I love this. This is awesome, being with you guys. This is great. But there are other things about the job that maybe you like less than what you enjoy doing, but I need to still be obedient. I need to do it as unto the Lord.

Here's the thing you want to understand when you're working: you're not just working for the person that signs your paycheck; you're working for Jesus. I'm working for the Lord. Not just because I'm in the church. If I'm outside the church, I'm working for the Lord. I want to be pleasing to him, and so there's this obedience that I'm to have on the job. If I'm asked to do it, I want to do it. We should be the best employees that people have because we work for the Lord.

Also, they are to be, it says, well-pleasing. Look at this, "in all things." Well-pleasing. The Bible says whatever you do in word or deed, do all to the glory of God. I want to please the Lord by the way that I work. I want to please the Lord on the job. If I'm seeking to please the Lord, it's going to help me please my boss or my employer.

And also, it says here thirdly, not talking back. Not talking back, which includes these ideas: not contradicting, not disputing, not refusing. In the present tense, it's used in the present tense which calls for a habitual practice on the job. Are you constantly arguing with your boss? Maybe not to his face or to her face. Maybe in the breakroom with the other people. Yeah, I know, right? "Hey, boss, everything's great. Right on. Yeah. See you at the company picnic." You just can't wait for the company picnic, you're going to put something in his sandwich. "Let's do that. Let's put crickets in his car and shut the doors. Let's slash the front tires, you get the back."

Christians should not be involved in those kinds of conversations. Blessed are the peacemakers, the Bible says. Are you a peacemaker on the job? Are you a guy that just throws wood on the fire? "Oh yeah, I'm with you, man. Praise the Lord. I'm going to pray a few prayers for him, break his teeth." It shouldn't be that way for believers. We ought to not be talking back in that way. We ought to show respect.

There are times when you have to bite your tongue because you work for people that aren't easy to work for. And there are a lot of things that sometimes you say things, again not to their face, but you're driving home. "Oh man, I tell you what." You're having a conversation with your boss. He's not there, but you're talking to him or her on the way home. "Oh yeah? Oh, you think so? Okay, fine. Wait until tomorrow." Who are you talking to? They're not even there, but you're going through it. You're upset. You know what you've got to do with that? You've just got to take that to Jesus.

Guest (Male): Encouraging us to be a good and godly example on the job. That is Pastor John Randall. He'll be right back with more here on A Daily Walk.