“Conflicts on the outside and fears on the inside—we needed encouragement, and our Father gave it when Titus showed up. He is a conduit of grace, and his very presence is a joy”. (Paraphrase of 2Cor.7:5-7).
Lord Jesus, I’ve been bumping into my “humanity” lately, so Paul’s vulnerability is both freeing and refreshing. If my favorite Apostle felt frazzled and frayed at times, why wouldn’t we? Hallelujah, the Gospel puts an end to posing and pretending.
Sufficient grace comes in many forms, but more often than not it comes wrapped in human flesh. You’re quite capable of sending ravens and rainbows, manna and miracles, a fish with a coin in its mouth (Matt17:24-27) or 153 net-ripping fish to discouraged disciples (Jn.21:4-12). But most often you come to us through our friends.
I love how Paul referred to Titus as a conduit of grace whose “presence is a joy.” Titus didn’t put pressure on Paul to be happy, get over it, or be spiritual. He isn’t the kind of friend who comes into the room, and we feel the need to sit up, buck up, or fake it. In Winnie-the-Pooh-speak, when we’re feeling “Eeyore-ish” we don’t need Tigger’s showing up—whose “tops are made out of rubber and bottoms made out of springs.”
Jesus, thank you for our Titus-like friends—please make us the same. They bring us your non-anxious, judgment-empty, kindness-filled presence. When you are near, “bruised reeds and smoldering wicks” feel zero pressure “be a sunbeam” for you (Matt.12:15-21). Thank you for being gentle and lowly, not irritated and put off. Thank you for being a friend of sinners, familiar with grief, always emitting the aroma of grace. Love this way through us all weekend long. So Very Amen.
