Profess and Deny

When you read this verse, you will probably think either of somebody else or of yourself. Which one comes to mind may say a lot about the week you have had.

Start with the people it was aimed at. Paul is describing a group of men in Crete whom Titus had to deal with. They are "unruly and vain talkers and deceivers." They "subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not," and Paul names their motive plainly: "for filthy lucre's sake." In other words, they are making money out of religious talk. "They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him." The gap between their talking and their living is how they earn their money.

Jesus described the same kind of people in some of the sharpest words in the Bible. What is striking is how impressive their works sounded: "Have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?" His answer is "I never knew you."

Now think of the other reader. This is the one who took the verse personally before finishing the sentence, and has been listing their own failures ever since Thursday. "Deny" is a strong word. It describes a settled direction, the way a whole life is really pointing, and one bad week does not make a denial. John is no softer than Paul, and he gives a test you can actually use: "hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments." He also says, "let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."

So two people read this verse, and only one of them is worried. It is nearly always the wrong one. If you are the worried one, bring that worry to God and keep walking with Him, because He knows the difference between a stumble and a denial. Carry that today, in both directions.

Daily Manna runs on a two-year cycle. The year one reading for day 30 is Shine Forth (Matthew 13:43).

All 365 readings in Daily Manna, Year Two