Focal passage: Titus 3:3-11
At my house, we have a welcome mat with a pineapple on it. This is a traditional symbol of hospitality – in the South! We use this simple piece of material to greet our guests as they enter our home.
Like a welcome mat, our lives should greet others with the gospel. In the book of Titus, Paul is instructing Titus to develop church leaders and to encourage the believers to live in harmony both with each other and non-believers.
In chapter three, Paul shows that Jesus in the gospel welcomed us (vv. 4-5), and therefore our lives must reflect the good news with good works (v. 8). Because of His goodness and love, we can then devote ourselves to showing others the same. A fruit of the gospel, then, is the proud display of good works for all to see!
Before we begin to see ourselves as a welcome mat, it’s important to also see what Paul says before verse four. Paul describes the unconverted person as foolish, disobedient, a slave, full of malice and envy, and hating everyone. That’s the worst welcome mat ever!
However, this stands in direct contrast to the next verse. Jesus, in the gospel, is the one who saves, washes, renews and justifies us. Washed and renewed people are the type of people God can use! God welcomes us so that we can welcome others.
Does your life welcome others to God? When the gospel is at the center, we can “devote ourselves to good works” (v. 8) so others may see God through our lives. God’s good work is the foundation for our good works.
In the end, this is the way of Jesus (Matthew 5:16). We must let our lights (lives) shine before others – with the purpose that they glorify God and receive that gospel that has appeared (Titus 3:4). With the gospel as our home, may our lives be the welcome mat that beckons others to come in and join.