Order in the church
Day 650, Saturday, May 23
Titus (all)
Titus repeats themes we saw in the letters to Timothy, with an emphasis on order in the home and in the community. Divisive people are again singled out as dangerous. “Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.”
Like we have seen before in the later letters, there is concern that Christians not be seen as a threat to the civil order. “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.”
About A.D. 70 there was a Jewish revolt in Jerusalem that was brutally crushed by the Romans. After that it was in the interest of the Christians to distance themselves from the Jewish mainstream and to present themselves as model citizens so they could avoid suspicion from the authorities.

-Rev. Mark Fleming

Saturday meditation

Psalms 122:1-9
I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” Our feet are standing in your gates, Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together. That is where the tribes go up—the tribes of the Lord—to praise the name of the Lord according to the statute given to Israel. There stand the thrones for judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.” For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.” For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your prosperity.

Prayer focus
Grant me peace in my soul that I may reflect peace in my life, my family and my world.