Out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given to them, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

 Good morning. Paul left Titus in Crete to set in order what remained and to appoint elders. He then goes through a list of what is required of one to be an elder. The last two were to exhort in sound doctrine and refute those who contradict. And like before: for there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach, for the sake of sordid gain. Of course today it is not about circumcision versus uncircumcision. We've talked about this before. If you are not grounded in the word, you can be deceived by others. To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. They were worried about fulfilling the Law of Moses. There was a lot of touch not, taste not - that would defile you. That does not mean that there are not some things that we should not touch or eat - but they don't defile us. They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient, and worthless for any good deed. You shall know them by their fruits. Today these people have various rules and regulations that they use to condemn you. If you follow them, you will come under the same bondage that those who tried to keep the law were under. They delight in your struggles. We are under a greater law – the law of liberty. Father thank You that the reader walks in Your liberty. He/she is a good example to those around him/her.