And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.
Malachi 2:15
God’s relationship with man is entirely covenantal. Deuteronomy 6 has come up several times in the Old Testament readings and it covers some very foundational points about this covenantal relationship. As those called out to be God’s people, we are to love God with all of our heart and soul and might. We are to diligently teach our children to do the same. Those who are faithful to the covenant are abundantly blessed by God, while those who are faithless or outside the covenant are cursed. History is also important. We are to remember past discipline and God’s great salvation so that we will not turn aside from what He has commanded.
In Titus 2, Paul gives a few examples of how this plays out in ordinary life within the church. He exhorts the church to reject myths and traditions and speculations that cause division and disobedience, but to teach sound doctrine that leads to godliness; “for all trifles vanish away when that which is solid is taught” (Calvin). He calls the older men and women to be solid, godly, mature examples and to train the younger men and women to do the same. We are to be models of good works, showing integrity, dignity, and sound speech.
As in Deuteronomy, the grace of God that brings salvation trains us to renounce ungodliness, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives. “The manifestation of the grace of God unavoidably carries along with it exhortations to a holy life… Although the fruit of good actions is not yet visible, yet the hope should be sufficient for stimulating us to doing well; and this is what he immediately adds, — waiting for our blessed hope From the hope of future immortality he draws an exhortation, and if that hope is deeply seated in our mind, it is impossible that it should not lead us to devote ourselves wholly to God (Calvin)” as His covenant people, redeemed and purified for His own possession.
