To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. Titus 1:4 ESV
It’s natural for us to think of how accessible we are when a need arises that concerns us. Some are called to a prayer ministry, others to render gifts of service, and some can send a money gift.
As Paul traveled on his missionary journeys, he saw the need for preachers who were willing to be accessible. He prayed for God to send him men who were or would become spirit-filled, and eager to serve in the ministry.
During his first missionary trip Paul met and converted Titus. On his second missionary trip he converted Timothy. Both young men were teenagers and Greek. After their conversion they traveled with Paul and his ministry team. Paul called both of them his sons in the faith.
Paul trained the men who traveled with him to be preachers. They became accessible to God’s leading. Titus, blessed with physical stamina, became a traveling preacher.
Paul wrote to the Corinthian church that Titus was coming to them of his own free will. Paul referred to Titus as his fellow worker by then.
Paul and Titus also went to Crete and established churches there. Paul left Titus there and later wrote to him to stay in Crete. Titus must’ve needed encouragement because Crete was a tough place to plant churches. The Cretans were, in general, licentious.
Paul instructed Titus to finish the work they had started. Also, he wrote to Titus about the qualifications of church elders. And directed the young preacher to preach sound doctrine.
Paul was stern and direct when needed, but showed care and concern, also. His letters were as good as him being there. Paul’s letters are timeless and have no geographical or social-economic boundaries.
Later, Titus went to Dalmatia, Yugoslavia, and established Christian churches there. He and the other preachers were effective because of their spirit-led accessibility.
Paul spoke Hebrew and Aramaic to the Judeans and Middle Easterners, Greek to the Turkish and Greek, and Latin to the Romans. He taught his team to read Hebrew so they could study the prophets and minister the gospel proficiently.
God is calling us to be involved. Every ministry needs prayer warriors, financial givers, and co-laborers. No matter which choice we make, we are being accessible in spreading the Good News.
A suggested prayer: Adonai, fill me with your Holy Spirit and make me accessible to your leading. Amen.
devotionsby/patricia jordan 