Intentionally Focused, Day 19

Graphic from Baptist Bible Hour

I'm continuing to get a lot out of the "Intentionally Focused" Bible study from Good Morning Girls.  This week the focus was on marriage, but the application of the various scriptures went far beyond that.  Today I'd like to share my study from this past Thursday.  The particular verse that is used applies to all women.

S [Scripture]= "The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things."  (Titus 2:3)

O [Observation]= My Daily Devotional Bible notes, "Paul advised Titus to encourage older, more mature Christians to help newer Christians grow.  Because positive role models can be a great help to others, older Christians should be willing to teach the younger ones, and younger Christians must be willing to learn from older, more mature believers."

The verse lists some of the responsibilities of older women -- some things they are and are not to do:
* They are not to be given to much wine.
* They are not to be false accusers.
* They are to be in behavior as is becoming to holiness.
* They are to be teachers of good things. 

If we were to look down at Titus 3:5 (which was part of the reading for this day's study), we would see why the older women are to live up to the above description: so that the Word of God will not be blasphemed.

Verse 4 (also part of the reading), details some of the good things the older women are to teach and also tells us who they are to teach.  They're to teach the younger women the following good things:
* to be sober-minded
* to love their husbands
* to love their children
* to be discreet
* to be chaste
* to be keepers at home
* to be good
* to be obedient to their own husbands.

And, obviously, the older women cannot effectively teach these things unless they have made them a part of their own lives.

A [Application]:  In many ways I'm living out this verse.  I'm teaching women and I do have a huge burden to see other women grow spiritually.  I regularly exhort older believers to teach and mentor younger ones, and I emphasize the reason for this -- that the Word of God be not blasphemed.  I am challenged, though, as I look at the things I'm to teach -- am I mature enough myself in each area to be effectively teaching others?  And the exhortation to "be in behavior as becometh holiness" covers a lot of ground.  Can I honestly say that my behavior always measures up to that standard?  I think if I'm honest, I'll admit that in many ways it does not.  I still have a lot of growing to do.

P [Prayer]= "Lord, I thank You so much for the practicality of Your Word and for how You use it in our lives to help us grow and change.  I thank You for how this passage has spoken to my heart, as I realize once again that I still have a long way to go in my spiritual growth.  I thank You too that, over time, You've shown me a score of areas in which I need to make changes -- and that You've clearly shown me that things can and must change.  I pray You will help me as I confront these issues day by day to grow stronger in avoiding sin and in doing what is right.  I praise You that Your strength is made perfect in my weakness, and I thank You for all You will do.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

What a blessing this study has been to me so far!  If you'd like to get in on this, it's not at all too late to do the study on your own as I'm doing.  Just go to Good Morning Girls and sign up for their emails.  When the first one arrives, go to the bottom of the email and you will find links to download the "Intentionally Focused" reading plan and study guide.  I'm sure you would find it a blessing too.