DATE POSTED: Sunday, October 8, 2023, and I was blessed to be at Advent Christian Village, Dowling Park, FL when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE Amplified Bible (AMP) IS FOUND IN Titus 2:1; 3-5;

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: But as for you, teach the things which are in agreement with sound doctrine [which produces men and women of good character whose lifestyle identifies them as true Christians]. 
Older women similarly are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor addicted to much wine, teaching what is right and good, so that they may encourage the young women to tenderly love their husbands and their children, to be sensible, pure, makers of a home [where God is honored], good-natured, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.

MY INITIAL THOUGHTS: As promised, in order to continue the tradition of Paul in seeing his missionaries preach and teach to the whole church body, I feel compelled to also remind our ladies of what God expects of them, as taught in the New Testament. I shared with the men in my last post what God required of us, so it is now just and right to share with the ladies also. For behind every good man, is a great woman who supports him and holds him up against the evil one. Behind every good woman, is a man who shows love to his wife just as God unconditionally loves us, and who demonstrates that love to His church.

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: As a man, I believe that we are to be the strength and spiritual leader for our wives, just as God’s Word dictates. To our ladies, I believe it is obvious that God is the leader of every good man, but He desires you to be the secondary source of strength and support, their primary ‘cheerleader’, in life. This becomes extremely challenging, especially when husbands come home with the battle scars of the evil one in the workplace, in their church business, in community clubs, and indeed in the community at large. Less I wander into a time of personal ideals, please allow me to share from God’s Word, as it was given to us by God, through His servant Paul, when he taught those who would minister in his stead – in this case to Titus. Let’s be reminded that Paul instructed Titus to teach the things that would produce women of good character, so that their character may identify them as Christians. Unless Titus, or any of our pastors or evangelists today, use a lens such as the one given to Titus, they may easily wander off into the field of personal ideals, which may often be unrelated to what God designed. Bear with me as I expand on the principles taught by Paul, to Titus, in regard to our ladies:
** Be reverent in your behavior – To understand the depth of this, notice the ‘so that…’ phrase that follows. As the oldest child of 5 children, I remember my mom telling me to be careful how I act, respond and behave in the presence of my siblings, because they are watching me. I love the way another Bible versions states this: ‘live in a way that honors God’! For this to work for you my friend, you will need to think of the words that will fill in the following blank: ‘live in a way that honors God – and not like _________’
** Not malicious gossips – Don’t allow the town to know about your neighbor because of the tales you tell them. Seldom will good news be repeated about an individual, but your friends and neighbors will quickly expand on the bad stuff that you might share with them! To honor God, I believe that He would have you brag on your neighbor – the man, or woman, that He created in His likeness. Not the one who allowed Satan to mar the goodness of God in them.
** Not addicted to much wine – Too much wine will open an individual to speak their sober mind! In other words, if you stay sober and think straight, you wouldn’t say half as much as you would when your mind is tainted by alcohol or other mind-altering drugs. Furthermore, a child of God should be teaching younger women to preserve the temple of the Holy Spirit and not taint its wellness with alcohol or drugs.
** Teaching what is right and good – Live the good and right life before God, then you can teach it to younger women by what you say and do, with a clear conscience! In later verses Paul expands on the things that younger women especially need help with. Teach them about the things of God, ladies.
Hopefully, God has placed a mentor in your life that helps you strive for pleasing God in everything you say or do. In today’s verses, Paul teaches that you (ladies) should live in a way that pleases God, so that you may encourage the younger women to tenderly love their husbands and their children, to be sensible, pure, makers of a home [where God is honored], good-natured, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will be honored. In the absence of this kind of teaching, younger women will still get guidance, but from the world that is totally misguided by Satan.

BLESSINGS WORTH NOTING: Oh, that all men and women will be so obedient to the teaching of God, through His Word, that we can help others live godly and upright lives that are pleasing to God!

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Lord, we are thankful that You designed a perfect world for us, and perfect children to enjoy that perfect world. I am so ashamed to say that we are so ungrateful, and many have chosen to follow the ways of Satan in so many areas of life, for which we are truly sorry and seek Your forgiveness. In our last study, You reminded our men how to live in perfect alignment with Your will and Your teaching, and in today’s session You turned that help towards our wonderful partners in life – our wives. Please Lord, continue to give us strength and determination to overcome the ways of this world and to strive for the way that You would have us live. Thank You for our ladies – our partners in life. Please bless them richly, and may our men join with me in desiring such a personal, intimate walk with You, that our ladies will be encouraged to do the same. Our next generation will be the result of everything we taught and demonstrated before them. May that be a Christ-like character that is based on Your Word and that You desire for Your children. May our lives be in such good form that You would be lifted up, praised and magnified for working through us and blessing us. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There’s another page on my website, entitled ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to this page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin or continue your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. For my podcast, go online to Apple Podcasts or, using the Apple Podcast app, simply search for Nuggets From God’s Word to hear more episodes, or click ‘Follow’ to be notified of Podcast updates. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby your home and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!