Titus 1:15-16 – “All is pure to those who are pure. But to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their minds and consciences are corrupted. ¹⁶ They profess to know God but with their deeds they deny him, since they are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.”

As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, genuineness became my focus. Immediately, my thoughts went to numerous places in Scripture that depict genuineness and its lack.

As I read Titus 1, Paul gave instructions and warnings to his son in the faith.   In vv. 15-16, he says, “To the pure, all things are pure…”   We could stop there and find a challenge so great it would consume our focus for a lifetime.   How do we see people and life?   Our view of others, events, and things is filtered through our view of God and the condition of our hearts.

He continued, “But nothing is pure to those who are defiled and faithless; even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but in works, they deny Him, and they are abominable and disobedient, condemning every good work.”

Here is what exploded in my heart and mind: “Profession is not Possession.”    Romans 1:18-25 speaks directly to the idea of genuineness.   In v.22 – “And while they thought within themselves that they were wise, they became fools.”

The Pharisees professed their faith, but their lives revealed a lack of genuineness.   Profession but not possession.  If our actions and attitudes are contrary to the faith we profess, we demonstrate a lack of genuineness. 

Sadly, too many are like those Jesus spoke to in Matthew 25, as He contrasted the genuine, proven by fruit, with the insincere, proven by fruit.  Words without action are like rain on a tin roof, just noise!   Just going to church, being a member, and doing stuff doesn’t make one a Christian any more than being born in a garage makes one a car.   

Love is a verb requiring action to evidence it.   Faith requires action to evidence it.   For the Profession of Christ to be transformational requires a changed heart, and a changed heart changes the actions and attitude.

Profession is not Possession!   It is not those who say, Lord, Lord, that will be received, but those who do God’s will.   Possession is professed in words and deeds.

My prayer for you and me is, “LORD, help us to know You experientially and transformationally. Change us from the inside so that we possess what we profess and that it is evidenced by our fruit!”

I want to possess what I profess!   Help me be quick to hear and quick to respond to You.   Please help me be pure in thought, word, and deed.

Let us live our lives viewing life through the Filter of God’s Word and Love!