Aspire to Inspire

    "Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or
    addicted to much wine, but to teach was is good.  Then they can train the younger women
    to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home,
   to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God."
   Titus 2:3-5 (NIV)
Yesterday as I was running errands I saw a church marquee that read "Aspire to Inspire before you Expire".  I was immediately reminded of what has been called the Titus 2 woman.  Now most of us has heard of the Proverbs 31 woman.  I even receive a daily devotional from the P31 Ministries and regularly check the blogs of the women who write and speak for this ministry.  However, God has also regularly reminded me of the other instructions to women in His word.  I personally have been challenged and inspired by the Titus 2 women. 
 Paul gives instructions to Titus, who he has left behind in Crete.  Included in these instructions are the things that Titus is to teach various groups.  In Titus 2:11-14 Paul goes on to tell Titus why he needs to teach the people the things he had instructed him to teach.   Paul states that it is because God's grace, through the form of His Son, Jesus, has appeared for the salvation of all, to redeem all.  Only those who truly receive Him as Lord and Savior are saved.  Paul further states that the same grace that saves us aso trains us.  Therefore, Titus needs to teach the people so that the Word of God will not be maligned, blasphemed, or dishonored.
This is why we, as godly women need to study the instruction that God wants us to received from his Word given to Titus through Paul, and thereby down the generations to us.
Because of my age I tend to focus on the first group that Paul talked about in his intructions.  The older women who were to be taught to be reverent in the way tht they live, to not be slanders.  Other versions translate the word slanders as false accussers or malicious gossips.  In study of the word reverent found in Strong's dictionary I think Paul mean that the older women should be modest in deportment as well as devout.  Paul often tell women that they are to be modest in how they dress and behave.  Further Titus is to teach the older women to avoid drinking too much wine to the point of addiction.  It appears that the olderwomen of Crete had a reputation for being malcious gossips, engaging in slanderous talk and drinking too much wine.  Lastly the older women were to be taught these things so that they would then teach what is good.  Paul then tells Titus what good things the older women are to teach the younger women.
They are to teach them to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, kind, and lastly subject to their husbands.  For me personally the things that the older women are to teach the younger are things that the older women need to do themselves.
If we pick up Paul's words in 2:12 we learn that the grace of God not only brings us forgiveness/salvation but also teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright nd godly lives in this present age.  This again is further instruction for how those who have been saved by grace are to behave. 
So if I am going to follow the instructions on that church marquee I need to aspire to life according to these instructions so that I can inspire other women, particularly younger women, to live as God has instructed through his Word.  I most certainly don't do that and therefore, I need to turn to God for help.  I need to turn to accountability partners to remind me when I am not following these instructions.  I desire is to be a good older Titus 2 woman.  Therefore my prayer today is:
Father God,
Help me to live according to your instructions.  Help me to be modest in my deportment (bearing).  Help me to not engage in gossip and slander.  Help me to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions to live a self-controlled, upright and godly life inspite of the temptations of the present worldly age.  For your help, guidance, and instruction I give you thanks and praise.  In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.