December 02, 2007 

“Put What Remains In Order!”  In his epistle, Paul tells his protégé, the young preacher Titus, that this is the reason he left him in Crete (Titus 1:5).  As I think about this task, my mind goes in two different, yet related directions: 1) what remains could mean what is yet left undone or 2) what remains could refer to what is left yet undone.  In other words, Paul could be telling Titus to complete a work that remains to be done or he could be telling him to do what is necessary to prevent the loss of something that was gained earlier.  Whichever intention was in the mind of Paul, and one could argue either point, either of these challenges is something that he (and we) should strive to do.  Having come this far in our Christian walk, it is imperative that we protect what we have gained (1 Corinthians 10:12).  And while protecting that gain, we must continually strive to rid ourselves of un-Christ-like traits (Philippians 3:13-14).  In effect, this is being the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13,14).  I invite you to labor with me in this pursuit!