The Set Up: At Journey, we have an early morning men’s group that meets to go through a Bible study called 33 (modeled after the 33 years of Jesus’ life on earth). Currently the series is focusing on, “A man and his traps,” which deals with some of the sins and struggles that are common to men. One of the biggest insights that we have received in the study so far is that it is not enough to resist areas of temptation and sin in our lives, we also must replace them if we want to overcome them. Saying yes to the right things is just as important as saying no to the wrong things.
I like to compare it to an Olympian or other world-class athlete. When a man or woman is preparing for the Olympics, they spend four years denying themselves things that most people around them are enjoying. Often, an Olympic athlete earns little to no money as they train and prepare, even as their friends are going on vacations or buying new houses. When everyone else is enjoying sweets and junk food, they follow strict diets to help them perform at peak efficiency. While friends are staying out late having a good time or binging the latest Netflix craze until 2 am, they are in bed early, getting the rest they need to train in the morning. Someone preparing to compete in the Olympics says NO to a lot of things. And the reason they can say no to those things, and stick with it, is because they have said YES to something greater. To winning a gold medal and bringing glory to themselves and their countries. You have to say YES to the right things in order to say NO to the wrong things. Resist and replace.
In today’s passage, the Apostle Paul is writing to his friend Titus. Titus was a young leader that Paul had mentored and trained as a church leader. Titus was now overseeing the churches on Crete, a Greek island in the Mediterranean Sea. Paul tells Titus that God has empowered all of us to say no to “godless living” and to say yes to “wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God.” Say yes and no. Resist and replace. That’s what Lent is all about. Saying no to our appetites or some part of our regular lives even as we say yes to God in a greater way.
Biblical passage to read: Titus 2:11-14
Reflection Questions:
· What do you think the hardest thing would be for you to give up if you were in training for the Olympics?
· Think about an area of temptation or sin you have struggled with. How can you resist that trap? What could you do to replace that thing in your life?
Prayer Focus: God, you know the areas of weakness and struggle in my life. I pray today that you would give me the strength to resist and say NO to those things that I struggle with. I pray also that you would give me wisdom to say YES to the right things that can replace those temptations. Amen.