Communion with God does come easily once we believe in Jesus; however, left to ourselves, we can become silos and islands, accumulating the desires of our hearts, clutching onto what brings us momentary happiness.  Even though we say it often and know it well, still we seem to be fond of walking life alone in our faith, in our time, and in our natural self.  Constantly, we must be reminded how we need community for our faith to flourish, how we need people to enrich the moments of our days, and how we need others apart from our own person.  So, let’s encourage one another right here at the beginning to ask:  Where do I need a community in my life?  &  Who has God placed on my heart that I need to reach out to today?

Years ago, author and apologist C. S. Lewis proclaimed:  “God cannot give us happiness and peace APART from HIMSELF, because it is not there.              There is no such thing.”   While we know that people’s lives can be rather messy, and our lives would have much cleaner lines without the presence of others’ cares, burdens, and concerns—STILL WE NEED ONE ANOTHER.  Yes, that’s correct, for it’s a pleasure and privilege to partner with the Lord and walk alongside others He places into our lives.

Thousands of years ago, author and apologist, the apostle Paul of Tarsus wrote to Titus, a fellow-believer who  lived on the Greek island of Crete.  However, even though Titus lived the island life, he did not live his life or walk by faith as if on an island.  That’s right.  Titus was a Gentile man who made a profession of faith during one of Paul’s missionary journeys.  As the gospel spread, Titus worked with Paul to grow a church plant (the body of believers meeting in homes), to shepherd the people, to lead the people of Crete.  As he did, Titus made it his mission to lean in to help correct the problems he saw.  Titus was a leader, a man of integrity, clear-minded, and possessed essential people skills.  Titus wanted believers living in Crete to be faithful and live as examples to their unbelieving neighbors.  It was to fellow-believer Titus that the apostle and evangelist Paul wrote one of his letters, encouraging him.  The Cretans were people like us, greedy, sexual, and self-centered.   The problem with churches today (much like those of yesteryear) is that they are filled with sinful human beings, sinners saved by grace.  Just as true is that churches are also filled with sinners who do not yet know Jesus as their Savior, who may be duped into thinking that their name on the church roll will be their “get into heaven” ticket.

Unfortunately, people cause trouble within the family of God:  bickering over issues, seeking and maybe not caring about the hurt feelings they cause.  These actions cause instances of stewing over the hurt experienced, and sometimes Christ-followers will decide to depart, to leave the church, and even worse—to turn their back on their faith and walk away from following Jesus, God’s Only Son.

Maybe (like me) you know people and churches like this.  Unfortunately, we see this departure from faith too often.  Those who are RICH in their faith become DESTITUTE and POVERTY-STRICKEN because they become enticed with what this world has to offer and forego the beautiful, rich TRUTH of GOD.

Titus received Paul’s letter, a text that outlined the instructions needed to correct the problems of the Cretan church.  Titus was to lead the people, both the young and old, to live as ideal citizens, living an example of what it meant to be transformed by Jesus Christ.  Like Titus, we too must be people of integrity, always ready to do the Lord’s work.  &  Like Titus, we too live in a world where we cannot live as islands, just floating along through life, living for Jesus within our own spaces.  We must be alive and living according to God’s Word.  As followers of Jesus, we are not to be filled with condemnation for the ways of the unbelievers but to live as an example of love, kindness, and honesty, giving of what we have received to help those who need the Lord Jesus.

For we know the Truth—Apart from God, Happiness & Peace Do Not Exist.

• We are called to make a difference in the world, saying, “Thank You, God” for all You have given to us.
• We are commissioned to speak our gratitude by using our gifts to help others, by sharing our wealth to help others, freely giving with no strings attached, and by doing good works throughout our land.

If we say we belong to Jesus, then our lives must actually reflect that we do.

As we walk with Jesus, then we walk in His Peace, in Happiness only our Savior can provide.  The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, another young man, who like Titus was working in the church.  Paul instructed Timothy to preach:  It is not about what we have accumulated but about what we give.

In giving, we “take hold of the life that really is life.”