Truth Is to Be Embodied

My guess is that you want a better country. You could want a better church. You may want a better home, and you probably even want a better self. If I were to ask, “What are your goals for this year?” you might have a long list or just a general aspirational desire of what you would like to see. The question is, “What you are actually doing?” If the answer is nothing, then the next question would be, “Why not?” Whatever the specific answer, there is a lot of friction between what we should do and what we are doing now.

Anytime we try to take action on something that is profitable, substantive, helpful, and Christ-honoring, there will be friction and forces that will wish to slow us down. Ben Franklin famously said, “Well done is better than well said.” So, what a person says is important and what a person thinks is even more important, but there is a place for actual action. Well done is better than well said.

In Titus 3 there is a contrast found in verses 8 and 9. Verse 8 says, “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.” That is belief and action. It continues, “These things are good and profitable unto men.” He talks specifically about good works.

In contrast he gives verse 9, “But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.” You have a contrast between what is good and fruitful and what is empty and unfruitful. In other words there comes a time when a person needs to take action, not just think that things need to change. It is the child’s task to critique and criticize from afar. It is our task to know the truth and take action on it.

Verses 1-2, for instance, say to remind people “to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.” Does that describe your life? It does not describe mine, not by my own nature.

He goes on to say that there was a time they lived in foolishness and disobedience, being deceived and living by their own desires. They were without Christ, but “after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared.” That changed their lives. So, truth is to be embodied, given action. It is wonderful to know truth, but the reason truth is important is because it is to be acted on. There is a difference between having a theory or aspiration about what should be and actually taking action on what should be. We are to be careful or mindful to maintain good works. Those are profitable to all men. They are not vain, unfruitful or unprofitable. So, truth is to be embodied, given action.

How do we do that? First, rely upon God’s grace. It is not just pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps, seeing things that need to change, then changing them by sheer willpower. Titus 2 says that the grace of God “hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.” This is because we have hope that comes from beyond this present world. So, God’s grace is not freedom to do whatever I want; it is the power to do what God wants. So, truth needs to be embodied by God’s grace, deciding to submit to God, then trusting God to empower what He wishes to do in my life.

Second, follow good examples. In Titus 2 God says to the older men and women that they are to speak “the things which become sound doctrine.” That is to teach good teaching. Then it says they are to “be in behaviour as becometh holiness.” In other words, these older men and women are to be good examples.

The following verses teach that the way I live reflects on the God for whom I live. People haven’t seen the Lord Jesus, but they do see me and my actions. The proof is in the pudding. You look at what people profess and then you see the level of peace and joy and purpose in their lives. That reflects on what they say and believe. Just look at the ideologies in the world today and where they lead. What kind of lives do the people who are advocating them live? Do they live a life of hedonism, as in eat and drink for tomorrow we die, like pleasure is the greatest virtue? Or are they living a life that means something because there is something beyond this life? If you don’t have such people in your life, look for them.

To find such people look at age and proximity. I can learn from anybody, but I should learn from those who are further down the road than me and are embodying the things that are true. Also, have people close by in proximity. God’s intent is that we are to be in community with people we know and see, not rely on so-called experts on social media or podcasts. Those may be beneficial, but there needs to be people in your church and family that can be good examples.

Third, keep small habits. Twice he says we are to maintain good works. Verse 8 says we are to “be careful to maintain good works.” Verse 14 says, “Let us also learn to maintain good works.” Notice, it doesn’t come automatically; we have to learn it. Maintain means “to preside over, to be forward in.” I need to lead in actions that become a practice in my life. There is a difference between buying something and keeping it up. It is easy to have ideas, but it is important to take action on them so we don’t run out of steam and nothing happens. Someone might ask, “How much does it cost to buy a horse?” That depends on how long you want to keep the horse alive. You can buy a horse cheap, but if you want to keep it alive, healthy, and prospering, it takes work, money, and effort.

Small habits are not small. It is great to have aspirations and ambitions, but you must be willing to make small habits a part of your life to be the kind of person you need to be. Habits build over time to make a difference. They can make you a person who doesn’t just teach and learn the truth, but someone who practices it in a way that changes the world.

Truth is to be embodied. We need God’s grace, good examples, and daily maintenance of small habits that will make a difference both now and long after we are gone.