Titus 2:1-8
1 But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.
2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good,
4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.
6 Likewise urge the young men to be sensible;
7 in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified,
8 sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.
1 Thessalonians 4:11
and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you,
Ephesians 4
29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. 30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Many times we wonder, "How in the world did Satan get a foothold here?" Whether it be in our home, our family, our work, our church, our ministry or our community. How? What happened to cause such chaos and division?
Well, for one thing- selfishness. "I want what I want and I want it now. I don't care how it happens but get me what I want, NOW!". Whether or not that comes by intimidation, anger, outburst of anger, control, jealousy, disputes, gossiping, dissentions= all these things? Deeds of the flesh. Ways of coping with our problems and situations apart from God.
Because if we were ALLOWING God to deal with these situations and circumstances then there wouldn't be any of the above deeds of the flesh. In Him, there are no outbursts of anger, control, fear, intimidation- etc etc. God doesn't deal that way.
How do we know that?
Well, just read Galatians 5:22-23. Read 1 Corinthians 13.
If you REALLY want to lay aside the deeds of the flesh- and allow God to do a great work IN YOU then you will let HIMSELF and HIS WORDS transform the very depths of your being.
Really, do you LIKE living in such chaos? I didn't. I HATED it. I hated me. I hated who I thought I was. Then God.
He began to speak into me the truth of Himself and who He created me anew to be.
I listened.
Ladies, especially the older ladies in the church who have a tendency to become the "hateful gossipy old lady"- read the words of Scripture well. YOU are to teach the younger women to, " be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored." Are you making it your ambition to lead a quiet life and giving grace to all who hear? Because know this, we younger women- we HEAR you. And the even younger women, hear US.
Men, especially the older men of the church that tend to pass on your God-given responsibilities within the church to the- well, women of the church and younger men- also read Scripture and take heed. Are you leading the younger men of the church in all manners of speech and deed? "temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance- urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us."
Let us not fail the younger generation. Let us love one another. Let us care tenderly for one another. Even the ones we don't like. : ) Because, see, God can do a work IN US to love the unlovely. Why is it we can "minister" to a stranger but not love our brother and sister in Christ? God called us into unity. He called us to be ONE IN HIM.
John 17:21
that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
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