Titus 2: As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching. ² Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience.

³ Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. ⁴ These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, ⁵ to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.

⁶ In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely. ⁷ And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. ⁸ Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.

 

when I was reading this.. I was thinking about the people I have grown up knowing in the church.... and I read what a 'grown' person SHOULD be.. compared to remembering what a grown person often is... and also myself... surely through my kids' young days I was not at all the woman that paul is describing here... I was good for talking about others.. I was a drinker... clearly I did not love the husband I had at the time.. LOL!! I was not wise and pure although at the time I am sure I imagined I was... I remember looking at certain women and how hateful they were or even still are... 

 

and it is easy to say this is the state of the 'church'... but that is really not true... while these may be people who are sometimes active in the church.. this is an individual battle... we cannot put the 'stereotype' of the church being these people... and again I say that I was like that too... until Jesus truly came into my heart and changed the way that I think... and I am sure that I still battle it in some areas as none of us have arrived yet...

 

I guess the thing I am really realizing is.. while I was so quick to look at others and their issues... I see that my own issues were not much different... we are so prone to seeing other people.. but never really looking at ourselves.. I think if we could put as much time into seeing who and what we really are.. and what God would like to be better within us.. we surely would not have time to be looking at or talking about anyone else.....