These Things Are Excellent and Profitable

Titus 3:8

After laying out the Gospel, Paul says something worth slowing down for: "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. These things are excellent and profitable for people."

The Gospel Paul has just summarized — God's mercy, the washing of regeneration, the renewing of the Holy Spirit, justification by grace, the hope of eternal life — is not merely theological information to file away. It is the fuel for a certain kind of life. People who truly grasp what God has done for them become people who devote themselves to good works.

The word "devote" implies ongoing commitment. This isn't occasional good behavior but a pattern of life oriented toward doing good. And Paul's audience isn't just Titus. It's the whole congregation. Notice also the phrase "excellent and profitable for people." Paul is saying that a community of people living out the Gospel, people who are humble, generous, and eager to serve, is actually good for the world around them. The church, at its best, is not just good for its members. It is a gift to its neighbors. This is belief and behavior together, the theme of the whole letter brought to its practical point.

Reflection:
What specific good works is God calling you toward right now, in your family, your neighborhood, or your church?