TUESDAY August 5, 2025
The Exemplary Behavior of Young Men
Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.
Titus 2:6-8
Titus, a young man himself, was commanded by Paul to exhort the young men in the church. He was to teach them to be sober-minded. As with the older men, they needed to have integrity, reverence and be morally incorruptible. Their lives were to have a pattern of good works––a life lived for Christ. They were to lay down an exemplary standard of behavior for other young men to follow.
Once again, Paul mentioned the importance of doctrine. These men needed to know Christian doctrine and live a life in line with what the Bible taught them. God’s Word was to be obeyed. A young man’s integrity was evidence that he upheld biblical precepts and principles. Young men were called to be reverent. The word reverent in context means “honor, decency and purity.” Paul’s charge to Timothy was similar: Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity (1 Timothy 4:12).
Paul continued to instruct Titus in what to teach the young men. They were to have sound speech that cannot be condemned. Worldly speech was unacceptable. Coarse jesting and cussing had no place in their conversation. Their speech should be above reproach––whatever came out of their mouths could not be condemned (Ephesians 4:29).
Sound speech builds people up; it does not tear them down. Ephesians 4:29-30 NLT explains: Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Young men, ask the Lord to empower you by His Holy Spirit to live an exemplary life as a Christian. God desires to use your lives to the fullest.
Purity does not mean crushing the instincts but having the instincts as servants and not the master of the spirit.
~Eric Liddell~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
