"Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the Word of God may not be reviled."
We are going to break down this section and study a little bit every other week. So, let’s get started with our first topic!
“Reverent in Behavior”…
When I first read this part of Titus 2, the word BEHAVIOR jumped out at me. My mind immediately went to what I DO and what I DON’T DO to make me a “good Christian woman.” This mindset of thinking leads us to make a list of all the things we should or shouldn’t do. This is dangerous, legalistic territory in the Christian life. There are many religions today that work on this type of system…I happen to actually live among a “religious people” who live this way.
Read this passage from Romans 10:
Brothers,4 my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own (laws), they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
The Christian life is not a life of Do’s and Don’ts. It is about a loving relationship with Jesus. That last sentence can almost sound too Sunday Schoolish so let’s look at it a little deeper. If you read Titus from the beginning you will find this just before chapter 2:
“Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted. 16 Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live.”
It sometimes can seem easier to just make a list of rules to abide by but living this way is not how God intended the Christian life to be. Living by this system makes the Christian life about ME and takes the focus off of Jesus who came so that “by GRACE are we saved through FAITH and that NOT OF OURSELVES, it is the gift of God so that NO ONE CAN BOAST.”
I lived my life this way until about 6 years ago when I truly gave my life to Christ. You can ask anyone…my BEHAVIOR was good. I had been a leader in my youth group, I obeyed my parents, I went to church, I married a preacher, I was a good mom, I taught Sunday School, I told people about Jesus, I prayed with people…I BEHAVED GOOD. But six years ago, God convicted me of my complete and utter sinfulness. I was filthy before a Holy God. My “list of do’s and don’ts” failed. I needed HIS grace and mercy to wash me and cover me.
So, what is reverent behavior? We discussed the word behavior in great detail. The word “reverent” simply refers to being honorable. If I love God, I will honor Him with my life. He should get ALL of the GLORY. Where’s the list, you might ask? There is no list….Love HIM….Seek HIS GLORY….Allow HIS Grace to cover you…Honor Him with your life…be “reverent in your behavior.”
3 comments:
“Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted. 16 Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live.”
I like this, but some people I know take it to mean they can do anything they want if their hearts are "pure."
I think it simply means that the evidence of our salvation will be borne out in our lives. If we are truly saved, our behavior will automatically show it, without making a list of rules.
Thoughts?
Exactly! That is exactly what I was getting at KC! Thanks for wording it a little differently for all of us!
Stacey
Stacey, I think we are probably a lot alike. My testimony is very similar to yours.
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