Why Not Be A Titus To Someone Else Today?

WHY NOT BE A TITUS TO SOMEONE ELSE TODAY?2 Corinthians 7:5-7 (The Message) 5-7”When we arrived in Macedonia province, we couldn't settle down. The fights in the church and the fears in our hearts kept us on pins and needles. We couldn't relax because we didn't know how it would turn out. Then the God who lifts up the downcast lifted our heads and our hearts with the arrival of Titus. We were glad just to see him, but the true reassurance came in what he told us about you: how much you cared, how much you grieved, how concerned you were for me. I went from worry to tranquility in no time!”

As Christians, we know that all of us have faced those times of sheer discouragement, and when the challenges just seem to pile up. It’s at those moments that we could all easily shout out that we feel like we are the poster child for “Murphy’s Law”.

You know friends, the Apostle Paul, perhaps the greatest missionary of all time, faced those same struggles that we face today. In our passage we see that Paul, after arriving in Macedonia, was writing to the church at Corinth. He was telling them that he was pretty discouraged. He knew they were upset with the first letter he had sent them chastising them and urging them to get their lives right. Things were going on in the church that had him totally dismayed and upset. Issues were creating divisions and he admits that they were all very nervous and quite concerned because they just didn’t really know how it would all turn out.

Then in the midst of the difficulties, enter Titus, the bearer of good news. Titus told Paul and his team that the church in Corinth had decided to get things right. They were coming together. The letter he had written that was used to bring challenge and a call to repentance was indeed heeded. That made Paul ecstatic. He went from discouraged to encouraged with one quick conversation with his friend Titus.

On this busy Tuesday, perhaps you are discouraged. David said in Psalm 27:14; “Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.” He also said in Psalm 42:5-6; “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!"

Maybe you are working with someone that you know is definitely discouraged. It’s possible that someone very close to you has shared their struggles with you and now they are awaiting your thoughts. Why not decide right now to give them an encouraging word? Why not pause and ask the Lord to help you right now, to be a Titus to someone today? Just stop for a few moments today and let God give you the words you need to share with someone else. Let Him help you to be the listening ear they truly need right now.

The songwriter offered encouragement years ago with these words: “Got any rivers you think are un-crossable? Got any mountains, you cannot tunnel through? God specializes in things thought impossible; and He can do what no other power can do.” Let’s take a Hebrews 12:1 approach to discouragement. It says: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, (and friends, discouragement will surely weigh us down)…and let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” How about it friends? Let’s be a Titus to someone today. Let’s help them to get up and get on with the race God has set before us all.

Have a great Tuesday and rest of the week.

Serving by your side,

Pastor Darryl