Titus 1:10-11 - Empty Talkers and Empty Hearts

Titus 1:10-11 "For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach, for the sake of sordid gain." (NASB)

I've shared in this conference before some of the aspects of my earlier life........most of which I wish I'd be able to forget because my motives were less than honorable.

In fact, I look back at several periods in my life that, when I was living them, I thought that I had "arrived." At one point, I had just returned from military service overseas only to find that that service to the country was looked on by a number of people with indifference............maybe even contempt. This started in me a chain reaction of sorts.

My answer to all that was anger that for years manifested itself in a rebellious spirit. I was against everything, it seemed, that stood for something or meant something of importance to anyone, it didn't matter who it was. I was full of the very things that Paul mentions to Titus above............empty words full of contempt and conceit. I talked about the "higher" things of life, not the conundrum of dribble found in ordinary existence.

I thought I had arrived..........and I read more and more that told me just that...........just a little further......just a book more...........just a bit more conviction and I'd arrive at the secret that was hidden from most men. I'd have the answer to it all.

I was upsetting anyone who'd let me.......teaching things that I thought were profound truths..........all of this to gain the tinkling currency of accolades from those around me..............."That sure is deep", they would say.

It took the Lord of all Creation to finally straighten me out along with many disciples He sent my way to bring me back. He never turned His Back on me............He never holds it in my face what a conceited person I was.

He is the Truth in life..............He came for all men with a simple message of salvation. It's all there in His Word for anyone to read...........for all to understand............if they only open their hearts to Him.

Love in Jesus,

Jim

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"But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired." (1 Corinthians 12:18 NASB)

"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Copyright 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission."

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This devotional was originally posted on CCI-Devo - Daily Group Devotionals on April 13, 2004 in post #525. It was written by Jim Ross, a former United Pentecostal Church member, who attends Christian Challenge International, the sponsor of the devotional group. The devotional is the copyright of Jim Ross and is reprinted on this site by permission.

Page added April 14, 2006

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