2 Kings 16; Titus 2; Hosea 9; Psalm 126-128
Whenever I come to a section of Scripture that speaks specifically to women I take note. Titus 2:3-5 is one such passage. This morning I find myself wondering if I am now one of the “older women?” I guess the answer is yes, since my boys have left childhood behind long ago…but I remind myself that I have yet to reach my golden years. So as an older woman what should I be doing? I will make myself a little checklist:
-be reverent in behavior (reverent= feeling or showing deep and solemn respect)
-not a slanderer (slander=malicious, false and defamatory statement against another)
-not a slave to too much wine
-love my husband and children
-be self-controlled
-be pure
-work at home
-be kind
-submit to my own husband
-by my good teaching in these areas train younger women to do the same
This is God’s plan for the older woman. I have my good days and bad days when it comes to this list. Oh, that word submission just has to pop in there. I struggled with that in my early years of marriage-thankfully I have a husband who is kind and caring and a follower of Jesus. But submission is not something to be demanded of us, it is an offering we make to our husbands. The same way that I submit to God’s authority-with a willing and happy heart. I cannot escape that part of that submission to God requires that I also submit to my husband. And that means that I trust God with the issues where I may not be in agreement with my husband-which happens less and less as the years go by. When I think about the times I have struggled with submission it has less to do with Ken being wrong and more to do with me wanting things my own way. I confess that I have my ways of getting him to do things my way-but then that was often not really submission but manipulation and sometimes we paid a price when he gave in to my way. Of course, sometimes the same was true when we did things his way. Hmmm, could we both be fallible individuals who do not always choose the wise course?
One good thing about reading through the Bible each year is that this list will come around again. I can choose to work on an area where I am not doing so well at the moment and then be reminded of it again in a few months and see where I can add to what I am already doing. (With this particular reading plan that means I see this list twice every year!) I wish I could say that after all these years I have this list pretty well nailed down-but that is not so, there are some things on this list that I find much easier than others, there are others that I seem to focus on for a few days after reading this passage and revert to my old ways. Thankfully, “the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly live in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people of His own possession who are zealous for good works.” -Titus 2:11-14, ESV
So on top of my to-do list for women I am adding this: that I would be zealous for good works; thanking God for the grace He has poured out on me as I strive to follow Him in all that I do.
Grace, peace, and mercy,
Debra