Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.
Titus 3:1,2[1]
We all need reminding. To keep certain things from slipping by. Slipping away. And while we all need reminding, the way we remind ourselves is as different as the number of people alive on this little planet we call Earth.
Since I’m on my computer a lot each day, and my phone is always by my side, I use technology to remind myself. And sometimes, Mary Ann asks me to remind her of things too. There are two different kinds of reminders that I make.
One time. These are things that happen once. Like a doctor’s appointment. Or to call or meet someone. It might also be a reminder to make sure something happened.
Ongoing. Every day I have two reminders: to take my vitamins in the morning and then again in the evening. Once a week there’s a reminder to put the trash out. Every 90 days there’s reminders to change the air filter in the house and to put flea medicine on the dog. And then there’s a lot of annual reminders for birthdays and anniversaries.
Paul’s not just telling Titus and us to keep on reminding ourselves about seven important things. No, he’s ordering. He’s commanding Titus and us to be constantly reminding ourselves and others. And these reminders aren’t on a daily, weekly, or yearly schedule either. We’re to be constantly to be in the business of reminding.
When we remind ourselves or someone else, this means that we’re to put certain thoughts into a mind and then to do them. If all we do is to paint a picture in a head, then we really haven’t reminded anyone of anything. It does no one any good to put a thought in someone’s head only to ignore it.
For example, I have two annual reminders about our anniversary. The first is one week before the anniversary and the other is on the actual date. I do this to ensure that I actually do something about our anniversary. To be reminded about our anniversary doesn’t really do anything. It’s the action that counts.
And the same is true here with the list of things that Paul wants Titus to remind people of. This isn’t just some list to be read and forgotten. Oh no. These are seven things to be reminded of so we do them each and every day.
Subject to rulers and authorities. They are to voluntarily put themselves under the authority of local, state, and federal government representatives.
Obedient. To follow the laws of the land each and every day., This means driving their chariots under the speed limit.
Ready to do whatever is good. To live with the purpose of doing good to everyone. For everyone.
Slander no one. Not to repeat bad things about people, or to not say what’s good about them. I guess this eliminates social media and the news.
Peaceable. Refuse to be the kind of person that’s always looking for a fight. Instead, look for ways to build bridges of understanding with everyone.
Considerate. To speak and act with gentleness with everyone. This doesn’t mean to be a doormat, but to be fair and reasonable with people.
Always to be gentle toward everyone. To live a life of strength that’s under God’s control in order to treat people like Jesus would.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve only got one word to say after a list like that. Wow would be that word. That’s some list. Can you imagine what kind of world this would be if only some people did these things? How our families, neighborhoods, and cities would be so radically different.
Think for a minute what the internet would be like if people followed these simple seven rules? No more false news. Nobody wrongly lashing out at some political leader. No more lies about what a product could do. No more AI generated pictures or videos that show something that never took place. And in the words of Sam Cooks, “what a wonderful world this could be[2].”
And while it’s fun to think about the whole world being like this, that’s now where it’s directed. Paul’s telling Titus to first of all remind himself of these things as he’s living with and teaching people within the Christian community. Then, as they experience Titus living like this, they’ll be reminded by his words and actions. Then they’ll imitate Titus in their daily living. They will treat other believers and everyone else like this.
Now, that’s some goal. But this is the only way that the world’s going to get any better. It starts when one person is reminded about Jesus dying for them. This free gift of God is so gracious, so undeserved, that it rocks our world. If God would be willing to die for someone just like me, then I respond in worship of him and loving my neighbor as myself. Now, that’s a reminder worth remembering and following.
Noodling Questions.
Are you a one time or ongoing reminder kind of person? Explain.
Which one of the seven things is really hard? Why?
Which one of the seven things is really easy? Why?
[1] Unless otherwise noted, all Bible references are from the New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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