Today's Passage: Titus 3

In this final chapter of Titus we find Paul's instructions to the church in Crete on engaging in good deeds.  Paul instructs Titus to remind his people where they came from and that their salvation is only from God's mercy.  Paul instructed Titus to say this because it is not by our deeds that we are saved but it is by our deeds that our salvation is made true to others (1 John 3:17-20). 

If we live our lives without acting on our faith we are doing the most selfish thing possible with God's gift of salvation.  Our calling to make disciples of all nations is no coincidence.  God made us with the need to act on our passions and that is exactly what Paul is describing here.  James said it this way:

"In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say,
"You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do."

                                                                                                                          - James 2:17-18