For You, My Brother John

As I have said, John Valentino had a deep admiration for Titus. Through John, I have had a chance to learn about Titus as well. He was a man that perhaps we all can learn to admire and see what John saw. It is said that we admire people by looking at their actions. Even 12 Step programs encourage us to find people who have what we want, and do what they do. I think this is what John was trying to do. In many ways, John was like a puzzle. Well, guess what? So was Titus!

Some people in history have volumes written about them. Their lives are considered an open book. This is not the case with Titus. So with Titus, we get to look deeper at the patterns of his life and the things with which he was entrusted. We can tell much about a person by what they are entrusted with; their ministry and how they carry out these responsibilities.

We can't look at Titus without taking a look at Paul. Paul wrote Epistles (letters) to different people. The letters were suited to the personality and qualities of the person(s) receiving them. Titus is mentioned several times other than in the book of Titus. In 2 Corinthians, Paul was writing to the church in Corinth, Greece. In chapter 7, Paul states, " Outside there was conflict from every direction and inside there was fear. But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus. His presence was a joy but so was the news he brought of the encouragement he received from you"

John, in an email to me, in part stated, "......but whenever I am downcast, invariably along comes Titus. At first Icould not find Titus but he was there. God always sends Titus. It is up to us to see him."

So, in this first part, let's look at: Titus was a man who traveled, he went where he was sent without question, he was sent into a place that was in very deep turmoil ( more on this in the next part) and he restored what was out of order. This was not an easy fix. It took time, patience and understanding. But it also took knowledge that he had to right some wrongs.
More to come!