Why We Labor

Oct. 29

Read: Titus 1:1-4

Why We Labor

“…for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth…” (v.1)

Faith and knowledge are the two things that Paul labors for on behalf of God’s elect. We do what we do for each other in the church for the “sake of each other's faith and knowledge”. Both of these facets are crucial for the people of God to grow in the likeness of Christ.

Faith is “the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things unseen”. (Heb. 11:1) One of the ways we “labor for the sake of others” is by being hopeful on behalf of others when they are hopeless, and having eyes to see for them a way forward when they cannot see for themselves. This is one way that we strengthen one another’s faith. God often calls us into relationships where we must look at the other person and say, “I am trusting that God is going to fill me with enough hope for the both of us! I know you feel hopeless - like there is no way forward - but the Lord is showing me a way. I can see a way forward that Christ has made for you… and this is good news… the “gospel”. This rings true in marriages, parenting, job hunts, illnesses, and so much more. We must do what we do for each other for the sake of each other’s FAITH.

As important as “faith” is, we must also labor for the sake of others “knowledge of the truth”. Faith and knowledge travel hand in hand. When the enemy deceives those around us, and they begin to believe lies about themselves, they are in great need of someone who can remind them of what has always been true of them in Christ. All of us need this from time to time. We need to be able to tell each other the TRUTH about who we are… who we are in Christ… and how we are acting. These are the things we strive for on behalf of one another… this is how we live - “for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth”.

When we lay this alongside yesterday's devotional, we get a picture of what biblical discipleship should look like within the church. We are a people who are leading and being led in our assurance of what we are hopeful for and our conviction of what we cannot see. We are constantly in need of learning and embracing the knowledge revealed to us about the TRUTH of who God is and what he is doing in us and through us. Faith + Knowing Truth. Think of that this weekend. So many of those around us who are suffering - marriages in shambles, relationships broken, or even simply fearful of the future - would be blessed by a brother or sister in Christ who would come around them and labor for their sake. Encourage someone this weekend. Believe the best for someone this weekend. Study the truth and share it this weekend. This is the body of Christ. Love you guys. - JDP