Bible Study February 12, 2025
Titus 3:1 – 3 (ESV)
“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3 For 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.”
How often do we look at someone who is doing something we think wrong and immediately judge them? Paul writing to Titus reminds is that we 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.”
It is easy to see it others and forget that we were there at one time. We must make confession of our personal sin and then seek to lift others out of theirs.
There are numerous references in scripture that refer to confession of personal sin. Baalam in Numbers 22:34 is an interesting story. The deceitfulness of the prophet Baalam led to a curious yet humorous scene between an animal with a sharp mind and a human being dumber than a box of rocks. Baalam’s “donkey saw the angel … standing on the path with sword drawn in his hand” and was correctly scared off the road. Baalam eager to get to his payday, “hit her to return to the path.” After the situation repeated itself twice – unexpectedly and supernaturally – opened the donkey’s mouth. She asked,” What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?” (22:28).
What happens next is that God opens the eyes of Baalam to see the angel of the Lord standing in the path. Baalam has been hired by Balak to curse the people of God but Balaam seeing the masses of people the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and turned the tables on Balak.
There are other references to personal forgiveness found in the scriptures:
- Achan – Joshua 7:20
- Saul – 1 Samuel 15:24
- David – 2 Samuel – 12:13
- Peter – Luke 5:8
- Prodigal Son – Luke 15:18
The point here is a simple one we all have sinned (done wrong in God’s eyes) we all need his grade in our lives.
God Bless.
Asbury Chapel 