There's No Place Like Home: Titus 2 Woman: Series Wrap Up

'Likewise, tell the older women to behave the way people leading a holy life should. They shouldn't be slanderers or slaves to excessive drinking. They should teach what is good, thus training the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to take good care of theirs homes and submit to their husbands. In this way, God's message will not be brought into disgrace.' -Titus 2:3-5

Synopsis:

I fancy myself to be a bit of a handyman (handy woman if you will). My latest project was a makeover in my daughter's bedroom. Just the sight of a huge box that said,' Assembly Required' got my adrenaline pumping! I got out my trusty toolbox (pink of course), ripped open the box, & grabbed the instructions. I know that stereotypically most men toss aside that piece of paper, but me...well I've found that it's best just to follow that thing step-by-step. Instruction manuals always show a picture of the finished project on the front, & inside they break down the assembly process one step at a time. From experience (having to disassemble) I've learned that it's best to read that instruction manual thoroughly before beginning to assemble. Following the process described within those pages precisely always yields an end result that looks just like that front page illustration (for me at least). Titus 2:3-5 is an instruction manual of sorts. It's a divinely inspired guide for becoming righteous women. We've spent weeks now deciphering that manual thoroughly, & that study has allowed us to truly understand what will be required of us...now the time has come to begin assembling with the end result of becoming righteous & godly women. Here's a quick overview of the process:

Step 1: Mentorship-

Sit at the feet & glean wisdom from someone older & wiser. Take someone under your wing & pass on your knowledge to them.

Step 2: Behavior-

Focus on walking the walk. Our talk is ineffective if our actions do not reflect the words we speak. We must live in such a way that our very behavior speaks volumes of God's love.

Step 3: Avoid Gossip-

Be aware of the 2 roles of gossip: Deliverer & Recipient, be neither! THINK before you speak. If it does not edify, it doesn't need said.

Step 4: Avoid Addiction-

That thing to which one is addicted to becomes an idol & a god. Be wary of the veiled & disguised addictions that plague Christian women (beauty, romance, body image, social media, children).

Step 5: Love Your Husband-

The foundation of marriage should be Agape: a selfless willingness to give of oneself expecting nothing in return. We must be cautious to not cling to an over-romanticized expectation of love. Learn to Agape your husband.

Step 6: Love Your Children-

Be wary of the desire for Phileo (friendship) with your children...that desire will cause you to compromise parenting integrity. Agape in parenting is seeing the big picture goal of 'training up'.

Step 7: Be Self-Controlled-

The ability to practice righteousness & avoid sin requires us to keep ourselves in check...without this quality we cannot become Titus 2 Women.

Step 8: Be Pure-

Be aware that while the world has made sexual immorality 'accepted & normal', Abba has done no such thing. Be willing to make the sacrifices needed to ensure the sexual purity of yourself & your family.

Step 9: Be Homemakers-

All women (both working & SAHM) who enter into the marriage covenant & who bring life into this world have a responsibility to be the heart of their homes. This task is physical & mental in nature & we are called to do it well.

Step 10: Submit to your Husband-

Do not buy into the Feminist misconceptions about this principle. Search the scriptures & ask The Lord to reveal to you His heart for submission. Begin practicing a submissive heart.

It's vital to truly understand these steps, to fully grasp what Abba expects of us as believing women. Once we understand the definition of each trait, the next task is to begin assembly...to begin cultivating these qualities. I truly believe that this will be a lifelong process. The end result is that as godly women our portrait would be worthy of being the front-page-fininished-product-illustration on the Titus 2 Instruction Manual. It's important that we know why we are striving towards that goal. In the case of my bedroom makeover, my goal was for my 3 girls to have a restful oasis. We strive towards becoming godly women for a couple of reasons: 1. To bring glory to Abba (we must be sure it's not to bring glory to ourselves) 2. That others might see us & know Him. We, as believers, are a visual & tangible representation of an invisible & intangible God. Statistics says that 87% of people believe that Christians are judgmental & 81% believe that we are hypocritical...evidence that we are doing a very poor job of conveying Love. The final sentence in Titus 2:3-5 addresses this, 'In this way, God's message will not be brought into disgrace."

Our righteousness or lack thereof either affirms that God is who He says He is or causes nonbelievers to question His integrity. Assembling this life correctly & becoming that finished product, a Titus 2 Woman, is imperative to our ability to fulfill our responsibility of being 'fishers of men' (Matthew 4:19).

For many of us this process will begin with disassembly. We've built a life full of sin & need to dissect our former mindset & to acquire a new one built upon Abba's plans. After that we're ready to being reassembling ourselves in the image that He designed for us. I pray that this Titus 2 instruction manual will be a blessing in beginning that process. If you've yet to read the manual in it's entirety, there are links to all previous posts below. We must be certain that we understand the expectation behind each trait, & that we are willing to do what's necessary to acquire each one. There's nothing left to do but begin putting it altogether, to start becoming that godly Titus 2 Woman. I, for one, can't wait to see the finished product! Good Luck, fellow Handywomen! Be Blessed!