Monday, January 27, 2014

Adorning the Doctrine

By James Burns

    Titus was to exhort servants to adorn the doctrine of God (Titus 2:9-10).  They were to do this by living faithful lives.  There was nothing they could do, nor is there anything we can do, to improve on the doctrine of God, but there are things that can draw more favorable attention to it.
    We can adorn the doctrine of God by knowing the doctrine.  Peter tells us to “always be ready to give a defense” for our hope (1 Pe3ter 1:15).  Knowing what we believe and why we believe it can help leave a favorable impression on an inquirer.
    We can adorn the doctrine by good works.  Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
    We can adorn the doctrine by content-ed lives.  When one can face the crises of life with faith and hope, others will want to know the source of such power.  Paul said he had learned how to be content under varying circumstances of life (Philippians 4:11-13).  Certainly, Paul’s life adorned the doctrine of God.
    We can adorn the doctrine by letting people see that the church is important to us.  People know when we attend its services and support its works.
    We can adorn the doctrine of God by “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).  Jesus prayed that those who believe on him might be one, that the world might believe on him (John 17:20-21).  He also said that by our loving one another, others can see that we are his disciples (John 13:35).  The Jerusalem church was “of one heart and one soul” (Acts 4:12).  Let us in these ways and in all other ways “adorn the doctrine of God.”

- via THE SOWER, a weekly publication of the Arthur Church of Christ, Arthur, IL. Ron Bartanen, who serves as minister and editor, may be contacted through the congregation's website:
http://www.arthurchurchofchrist.com

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