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Relating with Integrity

Titus 3:1-2
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 towards everyone. (NIVUK)

The vast majority of people who believe in Jesus, spend most of their life outside of the church.  They are working for their living, serving their families and participating in the local community.  Although we must meet regularly to worship (learning from scripture, praying, singing and submitting to God's work amongst us – Hebrews 10:25), that time is also intended to prepare us to be 'salt' and 'light in the world' (Matthew 5:13-36).  It is easy to become engrossed with 'church-ianity' and forget that we are called to represent Christ wherever we live and work.

Paul instructed Titus to make sure that the growing churches in Crete did not become isolated cults: rather, they were to be known as people of integrity (Titus 2:7-8).  The believers should respect the civic authorities, pay their taxes, obey the laws, do business with integrity and respect everybody who they meet (Romans 13:6-7).  It would be meaningless to claim to submit to God and yet refuse to submit to those who God had placed over them.  

In that way, communities would start to see the transforming power of Christ - when they saw people who were humble instead of proud, considerate instead of self-seeking, peaceable instead of argumentative, and speaking well of everyone instead of slandering them.  In addition, the believers should be willing to 'go the extra mile' to do good wherever it was necessary, even if it was not demanded or paid for (Matthew 5:38-44).

Most of the people who God wants us to reach with the gospel are not in the church, but in the world!  Believers have a special responsibility to go to their workplace as employees of Jesus Christ, and serve in their community as His welfare workers.  That is only possible because of God's grace - enabling us to submit to Him, humbly admitting our faults, and being willing to be His servants. It is not a regime of nice behaviour which we impose on ourselves as a religious discipline: it should be a natural expression of the life of Christ, motivated and empowered by the Holy Spirit, showing Christ-likeness to people who are without hope (Ephesians 2:12).  Therefore, every Christian should see everyday responsibilities as 'Christian ministry', and be ready to answer people's questions when they ask us why it is that we behave consistently with such integrity (1 Peter 3:15-16).

Prayer 
Our gracious Lord and Master. Thank You for calling us into Your service, having ransomed us from the darkness of a Christ-less life. It is such a privilege to be appointed as one of Your lights in the world. However, I am sorry that I often live as though I have no responsibility to represent You or Your kingdom. Please help me to take today's verses to heart and to reassess my attitudes towards people around me, and the way in which I relate with people. Please help me by Your Holy Spirit to live and work as Jesus would. In His Name. Amen.
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© Dr Paul Adams