Can I ask you to consider three big personal questions:
1. Who are you?
2. Why are you here?
3. How will you fulfil your mission?
The ‘who are you?’ question relates to your identity. You have been fashioned by God in your mother’s womb with a unique set of natural abilities. Additionally, when you were born again, God ‘saved you and called you with a holy calling’ (2 Tim. 1:9). Paul could write to Titus and say ‘I am a servant and an apostle’. What words would you use to describe yourself?
The ‘why are you here?’ question focuses on your purpose. You were created in Christ Jesus for good works which He prepared in advance for you to walk in (Eph. 2:10). Paul wrote to Titus to say ‘this is why I left you in Crete…’ Wouldn’t it be good to be able to articulate with such precision ‘this is my purpose…’?
The ‘how will you fulfil your mission?’ question highlights your goals. What specific tasks do you need to apply yourself to in order to see your long term purpose accomplished? The task given to Titus must have seemed overwhelming. How does one man successfully ‘gospelize’ a whole island the size of Crete? I am fascinated by Titus’ ‘how-to’ directive. We’re going to look at that this morning.
Pastor Paul
Bible Reading: Titus 1:5-16
