day no. 14,886: doctrine is not a dead thing

Titus 2:9-10
Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

God does not lower the bar on His standard of conduct when dealing with those in lower positions or those who have less privilege. Privilege and position come from God and no one can ascend or acquire without His permission.

Our temptation is to attempt to change our situation because we've already decided what and where would be best for us. We demonstrate our distrust by our insistence on refusing to accept where we've been placed. Furthermore, we punctuate the point by using ungodly measures like bullying and theft in order to change our position.

Romans 12:21
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good

God's plan to produce change is through reformation, not revolution.

Revolution cries, "What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!" Revolution cannot bear the difficulty another moment and justifies employing unlawful tactics in the meantime as a means to achieve better ends more quickly. But the revolutionary fails to consider that the tactics they use to acquire a different position become fair game for the other party to employ. For instance, If it is permissible for a servant to steal or cheat to improve their position, then why isn't it also permissible for the master to steal or cheat in order to secure his?

The world will not be overcome with good if evil means are used to overcome it.

Titus 2:10b
...the doctrine of God our Savior.

The doctrine of God our Savior is not a dead thing. Doctrine is not a beautifully arranged bunch of deadness like a board full of butterflies pinned immaculately in perfect rows with white labels containing long Latin names.

Doctrine is not an elegant lifelessness -- it is living and active and sharper than a double-edged sword.

The doctrine of God is about Him, the living God; and it belongs to Him, the Lord God. It is His doctrine. He owns it. And it is His doctrine. He is the main Subject. Doctrine is all about Him.