6.10.2026 - Scott Elgersma

Wednesday June 10, 2026

The Holy Spirit Brings Power

Titus 2:6-8

As you enter your time with God today, take a moment to quiet your mind. Breathe this prayer: “Come, Lord Jesus, come. Fill me with your Spirit. Open my heart that you might share your words of life with me.”

We read today from Titus 2:6-8. Read the passage now or at the end of this devotion. What does this passage teach us about the Holy Spirit giving us the power of God?

I love watching Jeff Mercer at work. 

Don’t get me wrong. Working with Jeff has its challenges. He can ADD you to exhaustion with all the different places he is involved in and things he is doing. Sometimes he comes with energy that I cannot match, and it can feel overwhelming. Add to that the “dad jokes” always come thick and fast with Jeff and its not always a completely perfect partnership.

But seeing him in his element brings me such joy. When he is working with a group during worship rehearsal and is bringing young people along in their learning and understanding of what it means to not only lead worship, but give worship to God while you lead worship, I get a little overwrought. He is shaping the lives of so many young people (and older folks too) that his legacy will be around for a very long time.

That’s a powerful thing when you think about it. An entire generation of kids will hold memories of their time playing drums, learning sound technology, understanding worship planning, and all the other things where Jeff disciples them. Those memories will shape their future. In fact, it’s not too much to say that churches in a lot of different places 20 years from now wherever these young people go will be marked by Jeff Mercer and his work even though most of them will never know it.

In our meetings together, it is clear that Jeff only does this work in the strength of the Holy Spirit. He names that power and recognizes his own deficits without it. I find it fitting that the Spirit manifests this power to Jeff because Jeff is living in obedience to what the Spirit has commanded.

Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

In Titus 1:10-16 Paul makes it clear that Titus is living in a context where battle lines are drawn around the faith. There are those who would tear down the Good News message of Jesus for their own agenda and proclaim the ‘corruption’ we spoke of yesterday. Paul is challenging Titus to counter “those who oppose you” by inspiring the next generation of the church to know and follow the word of God in all they do. 

Notice what Paul is doing. He’s telling Titus; “People will not be able to criticize you not just because of who you are, but because those you have discipled in the faith look a lot like Jesus.” 

In essence, Paul is saying to Titus, “Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” That passage is from Matthew 7 from a teaching of Jesus.

And what Jesus teaches there is that bad fruit comes from bad trees and good fruit comes from good trees. As he disciples the next generation in righteousness and they walk with Jesus, others will see Titus a godly because his fruit is good fruit. This becomes an encouragement for us in teaching the next generation.

We want to see good fruit in those who follow behind us. We want to see them walk with Jesus. We want to challenge those who criticize us by indicating those we have discipled and show them that when we are faithful even in our brokenness, the Spirit can transform those we teach into sons and daughters of God. We want to persevere in that work because sometimes our young people rebel and walk away from God. We can continue to love and pray for them believing that our God is faithful. Perhaps “this tree” will take longer to flourish than some others. In his time, God can transform what is sinful and broken and redeem it to bear fruit that proclaims his grace.

I see that fruit in Jeff’s life. He is a good tree. I’m going to call him a cedar. Why? Because every time I look: See! Dares more fruit! It’s ok. Jeff will laugh.

May Christ equip us to be rooted in his grace. May the Spirit empower us to love and disciple the next generation. May God continue to build his church as each generation pours the nutrients of faith into a new generation that will bear fruit for his glory.

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn his smile towards you and give you his peace.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

I love you all. Blessings.

Feel free to share this devotion with others.

To contact the author, please email: elgersma@therivercrc.com