The quiet hours of reflection often bring the most profound clarity. It was during a recent, vivid vision that I felt a distinct stirring in my spirit, accompanied by specific directions guiding me straight to the heart of Titus 2:6-8. These verses are not merely ancient words written on parchment; they are a living, breathing blueprint for how we are called to navigate a chaotic world.
In these verses, the Apostle Paul issues a timeless charge, particularly to the younger generation, yet echoing down to every person striving to walk an upright path: “Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.” Our young folks are being influenced more than ever right now by social media. They see violence, sexual acts, crime and doing the wrong thing as everyday life. They must understand that doing what is right is the best way to live an honorable life and honor God himself.
When we unpack this passage, the core message demands absolute self-control in all that we do. It speaks to becoming a living, breathing example of what others should instinctively desire to emulate. When we look at history, and even at our own daily lives, we realize that the truly great human works of faith are never forged in chaos, pride, or malice. They are built—brick by quiet brick—with dignity and unyielding integrity.
Every single day, whether we realize it or not, we are broadcasting a message. We send it to our spouses, our children, our coworkers, the strangers we pass in the grocery store, and the people we speak to online. Our lives are an open book. The standard set before us in Scripture is exceptionally high: we should strive to leave all opponents with nothing legitimate to say against us. When we fight back, snap back and talk back to others we become what they want us to be. A lesser person that is insecure about our self and well being. The Devil wants us to be belligerent and nasty. He wants us to abide by his rules and not those God has given us.
Now, let’s be honest with ourselves. That is a massive, seemingly insurmountable task. Human nature pulls us relentlessly in the opposite direction. We are inherently wired to be competitive, to compare ourselves to others, to envy what they have, and—at our worst—to want to tear them down just to elevate ourselves. In a culture driven by instantaneous reactions and social media metrics, self-control feels almost counter-cultural. Self control is vastly important in our spiritual, social, mental and physical living. We must be in control of ourselves at all times. That is a huge task and likely not something we can pull off. However, we can strive to reduce the amount of loss of self control in all aspects of our lives.
I write about this heavy burden because it has been weighing deeply on my heart. I had been spending much of my prayer time troubled by the endless loop of videos streaming across our computer and phone screens—videos depicting violence, anger, and division sweeping across our land. I watched people of different backgrounds, races, and beliefs fighting, attacking, and hurting one another. The social fabric of our society feels frayed at the edges. If we do not like someone we lash out. If we disagree we lash out. If we are envious or jealous we lash out. If they come at us we lash out. We have to get control over our emotions and not allow this to happen.
Amid that heartache, I cried out to God. I asked Him to counsel me on how to be a better husband, a more attentive father, a supportive brother, a loyal friend, an inspiring teacher, a fair coach, and, most importantly, a genuine Christian. I asked God to show me a practical way to help this younger generation break free from the poisonous traps of current American culture—the toxic politics, the blinding ideologies, and the fleeting, destructive trends that promise fulfillment but deliver only emptiness.
God’s answer to my fervent prayer was both humbling and direct: continue to be a model for others.
What a daunting task. How can I model righteousness when I have so much of my own backyard to clean up? I am far from perfect. I stumble, I misstep, and I fall short. But that realization is precisely where the journey begins. I must continually seek God’s daily guidance to clean up the clutter, the weeds, and the debris in my own heart and actions.
That moment of divine insight convicted me deeply. I had to make a personal vow to do better. I committed to being a better person, to lifting others up instead of tearing them down, to elevating my own mind and spirit, and to living my absolute best life rooted in integrity and rigorous self-control.
God gives us these moments of clarity, these visions and promptings, not just for our own edification, but so that we might share them with others—and so that we can be chiseled into better human beings.
If you are reading these words right now, I invite you into this same process of self-conviction. Pause for a moment. Step away from the noise of the world, sit down with a pen and paper, and make a list of the tangible things you can do today to live a life aligned with Titus 2:6-8. Ask yourself: Where do I lack self-control? How do my words reflect soundness and seriousness? Am I an example that a younger person would safely want to follow?
The beauty of this walk of faith is that we do not have to carry this weight alone, nor do we have to achieve perfection overnight. God’s grace and mercy are perpetually with us. He does not expect us to be flawless machines; He knows our frame, and He remembers that we are dust. He fully understands that we will have flaws, stumbles, and blunders along the way.
Yet, whenever we fall, we can look upward to God for immediate help. We can rest in the comforting assurance that He freely gives us grace, mercy, and forgiveness for every single misstep. His desire is simply that we surrender our competitive, chaotic human nature to Him, allowing His Spirit to cultivate self-control within us.
Let us rise to the challenge. Let us clean our backyards, guard our speech, walk with unshakeable integrity, and become beacons of light in a world desperately searching for something real.
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