Becoming a Titus 2 Woman

The book of Titus was wrote by the Apostle Paul. Paul wrote this letter to Titus, a man who was converted under Paul's teachings. Paul desired for Titus to be the man of God the church of Crete needed. Through the book of Titus, Paul, by the authority and inspiration of Jesus Christ, writes a letter to Titus instructing him how to organize the churches of Crete, what to look for in the people helping him, and how to avoid and detect false teachers.

In Titus chapter 2, Paul discusses the characteristics of a man of God, as well as a woman of God. I've read this chapter about 15 times the past week-- God calls me back to it just about every single day-- and I feel like He is calling me to discuss it in our next set of daily devotionals. The Titus 2 woman is a woman of honor, respect, and kindness. God- help me to be who You are calling me to be. Help me to be a woman of honor, respect, and kindness.

We just finished discussing the fruit of the spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness, faith, meekness, and self-control. And all of these tie in to the woman described by Paul in Titus chapter 2.

Over the next 14 days, I pray that God takes us on a journey of seeing the woman we can be-- the woman He is calling us to be.

- behaviour as becometh holiness/be respectful/live the way those that serve the Lord live

- not false accusers/steer clear of gossiping/not saying bad things about others

- not given to much wine/drinking too much/in the habit of drinking too much

- teachers of good things/so you can teach what is good/they should teach what is good

- sober/being a positive example

- to love their husbands/what it is to love their husbands

- to love their children/what it is to love their children

- to be discreet/control themselves in every way/wise

- chaste/pure

- keepers at home/can manage their household/take care of their homes

- good/to be kind

- obedient to their husbands/submissive to their husbands/willing to serve their husbands

- that the Word of God is not blasphemed/all which honor the Word of God/no one can criticize the teaching God gave us

- Then your enemies will cower in shame because they have nothing bad to say against us/And your teaching should be clearly right so that you cannot be criticized. Then anyone who is against you will be ashamed. There will not be anything bad they can say about us/ Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you

(King James Version/The Voice version/ERV)

Just like the woman in Proverbs 31- God is not asking us for perfection. I know a lot of these qualities may seem unattainable or difficult to reach. All He is asking for is that you live your life with PURPOSE. Live your life trying to be a better person- wife, mother, friend- every single day. 

Behavior as Becometh Holiness

The first characteristic described in Titus chapter 2 is 'behavior as becometh holiness.' The Voice version describes this as being respectful. 

God desires for us to give respect in all aspects of our lives.

John 13:34-35 states, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." 

Jesus has called us to love one another. He didn't give a list of qualifications others have to offer us in order to love- He strictly called us to love one another. And a great quote I read once stated, "Respect is the greatest expressions of love." Jesus, help us to respect others-- let us realize the need for it in our lives.

Respect.

According to the dictionary, 'respect' is described as," esteem for or a sense of worth or excellence of a person; to show regard or consideration for; to hold to esteem or honor." 

Respect shows that we have consideration for someone else- that we value someone else- that we understand their worth, especially to Jesus Christ. 

There is no one too far away from repentance and the mercy and love of Jesus Christ. If we were not too far gone- no one else is either. Thankfully, we are not the supreme Judge. He is-- so Jesus, help us to let You decipher and understand the actions of others-- help us to love and respect them because they are one of Your children.

Becoming an Example to Others

God is calling us to be examples to others. He desires for us to help show others what a life full of love, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and faith can be. And the only way we can be a true example to others is by following the Word of God. It is our road map- our blue print. 

I love what it says at the end of Galatians chapter 5 (after Paul lists the fruit of the spirit).. he writes, "Against such there is no law." (KJV) The CSB version states, "The law is not against such things." The ERV version writes, "There is no law against against these kind of things." The Phillips version says, "... and no law exists against any of them." 

You aren't going to find someone possessing these qualities-- truly possessing these qualities--- breaking any kind of law. There isn't a law against respect, love, patience, kindness, gentleness, faith. This is the life He is calling us to.

"The world is changed by our example, not our opinion." 

We can speak about good qualities all we want, but unless we apply them to our lives- it means nothing. The world doesn't want someone spouting off the Word of God but not living it. This is what the Pharisees were doing in Matthew chapter 23. Matthew writes, "... But their lives are not good examples for you to follow. They tell you to do things, but they don’t do those things themselves."

Jesus, help us to be not only speakers of Your Word, but DOERS. 

David O. McKay once stated, "Children are more influenced by sermons you ACT than by sermons you PREACH." I would like to change one word in this quote (just for our blog!)

"[PEOPLE] are more influenced by sermons you ACT than by sermons you PREACH."

Jesus, help us to be examples. Help us to live the life You have called us to live, not just talk about it.

Living the Life Behind Closed Doors.

In Matthew 23, Matthew continues to write about the Pharisees. He states, "“The only reason they do what they do is for other people to see them. They make the little Scripture boxes they wear bigger and bigger. And they make the tassels on their prayer clothes long enough for people to notice them."  (ERV)

Behind closed doors, these men lived very different lives.

Matthew continues, "You wash clean the outside of your cups and dishes. But inside they are full of what you got by cheating others and pleasing yourselves." 

God, help us to wash clean our insides-- cleanse our heart, our soul-- so that who we are in the darkness is who we are in the light. Help us to not live a fake life- where people see goodness in public, but evil is done behind closed doors.

We can't fake a good life with God. He knows the innermost parts of our being. We may be able to fake others for a short period of time, but He knows everything about us. We must pray every single day that God helps us become the person He called us to be in every situation, whether people are watching us or not.

Ladies (and men- I'm speaking about the woman of Titus 2 over the next 13 days, but the characteristics can truly be applicable to anyone.) We must remember that Jesus has called us to respect and love others. We love (and respect) others not for what they can do for us... not for what they have done to us-- but because Jesus first loved us. 

The only way we can seek after the following characteristics over the next 13 days is if we show respect to others and ourselves. This has to be the first thing we pray for and work towards.

I love you all. I pray that the next 2 weeks will bring us closer to Jesus Christ and closer to the lives we want to live in Him.