Titus 3:8-11 (msg) I want you to put your foot down. Take a firm stand on these matters so that those who have put their trust in God will concentrate on the essentials that are good for everyone. Stay away from mindless, pointless quarreling over genealogies and fine print in the law code. That gets you nowhere. Warn a quarrelsome person once or twice, but then be done with him. It’s obvious that such a person is out of line, rebellious against God. By persisting in divisiveness he cuts himself off.

A couple days ago, I wrote about how we all experience troubles. I referenced 1 Thessalonians – That’s why I couldn’t quit worrying; I had to know for myself how you were doing in the faith. I didn’t want the Tempter getting to you and tearing down everything we had built up together.

However, Paul wasn’t referring to worldly trouble like we think of trouble, like losing a job, getting sick, etc. Instead, Paul was referring to those troubles that tear down our faith – the little, seemingly unnoticeable, chips at our faith that the tempter daily casts along our way… doubt in Who God is and His Sovereign Goodness. It can be unnerving as a teacher in faith, to teach a student (any age) about God and watch their eyes light up because His Spirit in them is revealing His Glory… only to have them come back to you a day later or a week later or a month later completely run-a-muck by doubt and consumed by the world. The tempter convinced them there was a shortcut or a different route to Goodness – only to find themselves seemingly lost again… and not joyful mind you. So I start over – this cycle can be excruciating and I believe it was what Paul was referring to. He was worried about his friends. Paul was afraid that after he left, his friends would fall back to their old way – that the “tempter would tear down everything they had built up together.”

So todays reading from Titus is encouragement combined with some advice. “Hold onto the essentials that are good for everyone.” Don’t give up – take a firm stand in knowing who God is and don’t get caught up with quarrelsome people. Why? Because it takes our eyes off of Him. Hold onto the essentials, “love and faith for the Master Jesus.” -Philemon 1:5

I can already hear the tempter pounding all the excuses and reasons that Jesus is not enough – but God, our star breathing, kingdom swallowing, life-giving God, says He is enough. Who are you going to believe? Hold onto the essential.