"On every page of the God-breathed writings are many thoughts that stretch out like long, clear arms of light across the darkness, discovering things otherwise hidden and illuminating wider areas than those of the immediate context. They are searchlights. I have selected one in each chapter of Scripture, for at least one central thought in every chapter should arrest the mind and affect the life," wrote G. Campbell Morgan, a skilled, wise, warm-hearted Bible teacher who conducted a classic 3-year study called Life Applications from Every Chapter of the Bible. Here is the fruit of that research—summarized, illustrated, and amplified with useful details—on all 66 books of the Bible.
Titus 1:15 "To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure." Titus is the name of another faithful disciple and minister Paul wrote to about the same time he penned his first letter to Timothy. Both men were leading churches in challenging areas and needed Paul's guidance. By the inspiration of God's Spirit, that guidance continues to direct and bless churches and individual Christians to this day. Titus was tasked with installing faithful church leaders who would rebuke would-be teachers obsessed with "fables and the commandments of men," which are human traditions that directly or indirectly contradict Scripture. Such traditions constantly lead to a burdensome life because they declare actions to be sins that are not sinful according to God, and leave the truly sinful things of the inner life untouched. To those God makes pure through saving faith in His Son, everything in life such as appetite and food, desire and marriage, exchange and commerce, recreation and resting will be maintained in purity. To the unbelieving, anything can be made the vehicle and occasion of impurity. Paul later explains, "We ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy ... through Jesus Christ our Savior ... being justified by His grace [and] heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:4-7).
Titus 2:10 "Showing all good faith so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior." From talking about leadership in the church, Paul moves onto practical instructions from God to the major groups of people within the church: older men and women, younger women and men, and servants or slaves. The highlighted verse presents two striking ideas: that the doctrine of our great God and Savior can be adorned and that those spoken of as able to do it are slaves. The conditions of slaves in Crete, where Titus was laboring, were of the worst. Paul affirmed what Cretan prophets said about their own people: that they tended to be beastly liars and gluttons. Imagine such people as masters! But now because of the Gospel, some of the slaves became saints. God, through Paul, wanted them to know they were in the powerful position of advancing His work throughout their society. How? By being submissive to their masters, well-pleasing instead of argumentative, honest and faithful. Such actions in difficult circumstances would win from their masters a recognition of their goodness. The doctrine of our God and Savior is adorned when its effects on life and character are expressed in conduct. To be true, gentle, and faithful in hard, unfair, and unjust circumstances is possible only in the power of some great spiritual conviction. The value of godly conviction is revealed in godly conduct, which will draw even the worst of people to saving faith in Christ.
Titus 3:8 "I want you to insist on these things so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works." Paul begins this chapter, "Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people." That kind of behavior shines like a diamond in a dark world characterized by insubordination, laziness, strife, and every form of evil excess. Christians are identified as those who believe in the one true God, which is to believe what He has said in His Word, the holy Bible. We who stand on that belief testify to the power of it by the good works that flow from our faith, such as following a quiet and diligent life of devotion to duty in honest labor. There are few more powerful forces for rebuking all evil things, whether of conduct or opinion, than the quiet, strong, persistent life of a man or woman who goes on from day to day doing the duties of the day well, cheerfully and with joy. It is not easy, which is why Paul says to be careful about it. That means we are to make it a study, to take thought about it, which Paul reiterates in closing this letter: "Let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful" (verse 14). The difficulty involved in learning this life skill makes it all the more precious and worthwhile to master.
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