Bouts of Doubt
. . . in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began . . . . (Titus 1:2 NKJV)
It all starts with God's character. That's what Paul understood as he wrote what we would come to know as the book of Titus. In this brief three-chapter epistle, the apostle penned a plethora of precious promises. But he knew these would just be words on a piece of parchment unless they were backed up by something more substantial than the moral fiber of man. Therefore, he directed Titus' attention to the fact that God is the One behind these promises and that He cannot lie.
Titus needed to be reminded of this truth, and so do we. The circumstances of our lives are beyond our control and constantly changing. As they do, we may be tempted to question God's character: If God is so good, why did He let that person pass away? Where was He when I needed Him most? How am I supposed to trust Him again? We ask ourselves these questions from time to time when faced with seasons of uncertainty in life.
But we can always be sure of this: God cannot lie, which means He will never go back on His Word and we can always trust what it tells us. We can trust that the Lord will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), He will be with us until the end of this age (Matthew 28:20), and His ways are always just and true (Revelation 15:3). God is forever faithful, and if He can be trusted to make good on a promise as important as eternal life, He can surely be trusted in matters pertaining to this life.
God's impeccable character is the basis of the book of Titus, and it's also the unshakable foundation of our lives. When we find ourselves going through a bout of doubt, we need to know what God has promised in His Word and remember that His promises must be true because He cannot lie.
. . . it is impossible for God to lie . . . . (Hebrews 6:18 NKJV)
DIG - Why did Paul begin this epistle by emphasizing that God cannot lie?
DISCOVER - How have you been tempted to question God's character?
DISPLAY - What do you need to remember during bouts of doubt?
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At the age of 24, Bob Coy left a coveted position in the music industry to serve as an associate pastor with Calvary Chapel of Las Vegas. In 1985, Bob and his wife, Diane, moved to Fort Lauderdale and began Calvary Chapel of Fort Lauderdale. As senior pastor, he has become well known for his unique style in expounding the Scriptures, making them come alive and relate to those of us living in the 21st century. His teaching style emphasizes the believer's "life application" of the highest standards of God's truth while his delivery captures the loving heart of God's Spirit.
Pastor Bob has had the rare privilege of watching God's miraculous hand move in the individual lives of those in the fellowship as well as the corporate body as a whole. From the first meeting in a living room with four in attendance, Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale has now become home to over 17,000 men and women from the tri-county area, and ranks as the eighth largest church in the country. Though many have tried to attribute its rapid growth to numerous reasons, no one is more surprised by the phenomenon than Pastor Bob, who gives total credit and all the glory to God alone.
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