the older women likewise,
that they be reverent in behavior,
not slanderers,
not given to much wine,
teachers of good things—
Titus 2:3
LORD Jesus, we praise You and thank You for giving us the Word. Forgive us whenever we neglect to study it diligently. Help us, O LORD we pray, to seek Your will and enable us to do as You have commanded us to do. Guide us through this study that we may not point fingers at others or only see what others have done wrong, but that we will learn and do what pleases You — our God and our Savior. In Jesus’ precious name we pray. Amen.
We arrived at verse three in our study and will tackle the following two verses phrase by phrase. So, fasten your seat belts and let’s dig into the Word.
READ — Today’s verse:
THE OLDER WOMEN LIKEWISE, THAT THEY BE REVERENT IN BEHAVIOR, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things—
ENGAGE — Think
The Older Women Likewise
Let’s just review the six characteristics which men ought to have and which women should be likewise: sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love and in patience.
How are women to be concerning their behavior? (Copy/Paste – NKJV)
That they be _____ in behavior.
Yesterday I tried to put it in two words: serious and honest. You are right, not the best synonyms for it. So, following, are some better ones: devoted, humble, respectful, submissive.
APPLY — What is this phrase telling us?
Looking up this verse in my German Bible and paraphrasing it this is what it says: We need to behave in such a way as Christians ought to behave.
We should be humble and show deep respect. We should give no room to thoughts that are untrue, dishonest, unjust, or of bad report, but instead use them for good (Philippians 4:8). Our actions or talks are not to be in a disoriented or overly excited way.
Ouch! I still have so much to learn about that.
DO — Think: What does this look like in our daily life?
At home, that’s where we need to start practicing our faith because reverent behavior starts in the home, doesn’t it? And I’m not only talking about a daughter showing respect toward her dad or a wife (the mother of the daughter/s) submitting to authority. There is more to it. It’s about a lifestyle, the setting of a beautiful example of a woman (young and old) reverent in behavior.
Shine as a light in your home today.