“Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,” (Titus 1:1, NASB95)
Writing to his student, Titus, Paul opens with a few statements that Titus already knew. Obviously, this wasn’t for Titus’s benefit, but for those to whom he preached, the Cretans.
To be a “bond-servant” was really a foreign concept for the people living on the island of Crete. Paul describes them in verse 12 by using some of their own words “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” These are not the attributes of a “bond-servant.”
A “bond-servant” is simply a slave to another. They are under the will of a greater power and not of their own. This describes Paul and Titus, but not those who have not died to self on the island of Crete. Thus, Paul is writing, not just to Titus, but to those in the church on that island. They are no longer their own, they have been bought with a price, the price of blood.
In our own country, we can see a similar attitude taking hold here that we see in Crete during the days of Titus. It is hard to know what to believe from our politicians, the media, and even those whom we used to trust. We see large corporations, states, and other entities pushing to eliminate any kind of moral standard. Then there are those who want what everyone else has, and not work for it. They call it D.E.I., an acronym better understood as “Didn’t Earn It”.
Despite all that we see and hear, we must never let go of the idea that we are Christians first, aliens in this world, and our Master is not of this realm. We are ambassadors for Christ, showing the world God’s purpose for us all in the lives we live.
We all are bond-servants “of God and” ambassadors “of Jesus Christ.” Why? “For the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness.”
“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” (Galatians 6:9–10, NASB95)