Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

Titus 2

Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. Titus 2:7-8

I maintain pause my study of 1 Corinthians and focus on a study of 2 Thessalonians and Titus as part of a men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church.  This morning I read Titus 2, assisted by the Christ Centered Exposition Series commentary for 1-2 Timothy and Titus, and focus on vv1-8. Per the commentary:

• The main idea: The gospel calls those within the church to pursue God’s assignment of godliness, whether young or old, male or female.
  
• Excerpts from the introduction: The church is being shaped by secular culture more than by sacred Scripture. Never has the church needed more desperately to hear the words of Titus 2:1-8. This is a text that makes God’s plan, God’s assignments, God’s roles for men and women in the church plain and clear. In this passage of Scripture, Paul outlined God’s expectations for each of the four major groups in the church in terms of gender and age. He defined godly living that is “consistent with sound doctrine.” Though the word itself does not appear, the driving concept in these verses can be summed up in one important word: discipleship. Older men need to disciple younger men, and older women need to disciple younger women.
  

Divisions:

1. Pursue God’s Assignment as an Older Man (2:1-2): Paul seeks for Titus to lead the men away from their focus on the words of men (see Titus 1) to the Word of God. He encourages a different path for the older men of the church, including teaching the Word of God, being level headed and making sound Godly judgements in use of God-given time and talents, being reverent of God in all speech and behavior - not vulgar or inappropriate, being sensible/self-controlled and not letting passions rule them, being sound in his faith, loving, and patient. 
   
2. Pursue God’s Assignment as an Older Woman (2:3): Be reverent of God, truthful, not slanderous, level headed (not enslaved to alcohol), and be a teacher.
   
3. Pursue God’s Assignment as a Younger Woman (2:4-5): Love your husband, love your children, be self-controlled, be pure, be a homemaker, be good, and be subject to your husband (yielding to Godly leadership and direction).
   
4. Pursue God’s Assignment as a Younger Man (2:6-8): Seek older men to pour into you and to serve as a model for Godly living. "Paul recognizes the need younger men have for godly mentoring, and so he instructs them in a pattern of discipleship that would promote godly character, conviction, and commitment." Younger men are also to be level headed/self controlled (guarding heart), a good example, sound in doctrine, and sound in speech.
   

In all these verses, believers, regardless of their role/assignment, are to serve as an example for others and to be above reproach - all towards an aim of saving others for Christ.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - thank You Jesus for giving me Godly men who serve as examples for my own journey with Christ.  I am not deserving of such love and blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Proverbs 31:10-31

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30

I continue my study of Proverbs with week 11 from my study workbook, which focuses on Proverbs 31:10-31.  My focus for today includes questions #3-4 in the workbook, which describe (1) the contrast between how a Godly woman occupies her time and works (as depicted in Proverbs 31:16) vs the prevailing attitude of women today; and (2) what is intended when Godly women dress themselves with strength (Proverbs 31:17).  On question (1) my view is that it is clear that the woman depicted in Proverbs 31:16 is Godly as it states this explicitly in 31:30.  It is through this fear of God that the woman in Proverbs 31 seeks to honor and glorify God first, and in so doing follows other scripture laid out for women as discussed in text highlighted by John Piper and others - (see John Piper using 1 Peter 3:1-6 in this video and post, see this post from a woman writer on DesiringGod.com how women should ground their identity in Jesus vs their work, and this post from the founder of Heritage Girls (an alternative to Girl Scouts)). The core difference between a Godly woman and the prevailing secular attitude of women today is that a Godly woman fears God and finds her identity first in God and this flows through to all of her life. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me and who blesses innumerably and indescribably - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of all the ways You bless me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

[Mak]e the best use of the time, because the days are evil....mak[e] the best use of the time.

Proverbs 31:10-31

[Mak]e the best use of the time, because the days are evil....mak[e] the best use of the time. Ephesians 5:16, Colossians 4:5

I continue my study of Proverbs with week 11 from my study workbook, which focuses on Proverbs 31:10-31.  My focus for today includes questions #1-2 in the workbook, which describe (1) how a wife can be trusted (Proverbs 31:11), and (2) how a wife works long hard days (Proverbs 31:15, 18, Ephesians 5:15-15, Colossians 4:5). These questions, of course, have relevance for not just wives and women, but for all believers. Of these two questions, this morning I am challenged (also from a message this morning from Pastor Jared during men's wake up call) to make the "best use of my time" so that I can build up spiritual disciplines.  I am encouraged to more closely examine how I use my time so that I make the best use of my time. 

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My Prayer: Heavenly Father, I know You are always at work in my life - thank You Jesus!  I am blessed by how You orchestrate the details of my life.  I am undeserving of how You do this - I know You love me and You saved me - there is nothing I did or can ever do to deserve this.  You are so full of grace.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Proverbs 31:10-31

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. Proverbs 31:26

I continue my study of Proverbs with week 11 from my study workbook, which focuses on Proverbs 31:10-31.  My focus for today includes the introduction to this weeks lesson from the workbook, which points how the text describes "an alphabet of womanly excellence," and that "the woman's marital status is not the primary emphasis[,]" but instead that the woman in this chapter "is a portrait of feminine wisdom.  She embodies in all areas of life the full character of wisdom commended in Proverbs."  We are encouraged as well to see the "the big picture" from my workbook, which states that "true wisdom is not just for men but for all God's people." As I have struggled with anger and harsh words for much of my life, I am blessed to have a wife Lisa who, like the woman from the extent is the epitome of wisdom and kindness. Thank You God for the blessing of Lisa!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who blessed me with a wife who loves the Lord, and is full of wisdom and kindness.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You bless me.  I am often angry and harsh - please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.