without this there is no possibility of producing works which will be acceptable to the

Lord. The closing words are characteristic of the Apostle:

Most evidently he valued the love of his friends, some of whom manifested it by

staying with him to the end, as Luke did (II Tim. 4: 11). He concludes with his usual

reference to grace as the mark of this being a genuine epistle from him (II Thess. 3: 17,

This letter, together with the two of Timothy, throw a flood of light on the conditions

these two overseers had to face, and the wisdom, strength and grace they would need to

discharge their responsibilities to the Lord, and to those to whom they ministered. They

are a word in season to all who are called upon to lead, for such will always have to deal

with those who respond and others who reject and even oppose.

We are thankful for this epistle to Titus with its wholesome balance on doctrine and

good works (practice) which should surely follow. It has vividly brought before us the

two appearings of the Lord Jesus, the first accomplished nearly 2,000 years ago which

provides the basis of all our salvation and calling, and the second which takes our mind to

the future and the full assurance of hope that will be realized at the manifestation of the

glory of our great God and Saviour. Nothing is dated here; it is a moment known only to

God, but there is no prophetic event to be fulfilled first, so we can "live . . . . . looking" in

joyful anticipation for it each day. For we know not when the last member of the Body

will be gathered in and this may not be long delayed.

Meanwhile may we prove that this is not only a happy and a certain hope, but a very

practical one as well, as enabling us to make the most of the time left in faithful witness

and full response to whatever the claims of the Lord and His will are upon each of us.