Uncovering the Beauty – Titus 2:4 Training
November 2nd, 2009
I was going to write today on loving our husbands, but there is something in Titus 2:4 that needs to be examined closer…
“…so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands…”(NASB)
“Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands…” (NIV)
“So that they will wisely train the young women to be sane and sober of mind (temperate, disciplined) and to love their husbands…” (AMP)
The Greek verb here translated “train” means “to make sane or sober of mind, to moderate, to discipline.” – Marvin Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament
A little word, easily overlooked, but with abundant meaning. Train.
Are you disciplined?
Are you of a sober mind?
Are you trainable?
“Now then, my sons, listen to me;
blessed are those who keep my ways.
Listen to my instruction and be wise;
do not ignore it.
Blessed is the man who listens to me,
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at my doorway.
For whoever finds me finds life
and receives favor from the LORD.
But whoever fails to find me harms himself;
all who hate me love death.” Proverbs 8:32-36
I fear going further in this study because I know that once the Lord lifts the veil from our eyes we can never return it. Once our eyes are opened life gets seemingly more complicated, because we have to then make choices, hard choices. Conviction will take hold, or perhaps we will run, either way, we must respond. Because ultimately it comes down to this: dying…to ourselves.
Think about this today, about what it means to be trainable, what it means to lay down our own lives and pick up counter worldly ones. A Jesus life.
It is a hard, blessed path. Don’t take it lightly.
Are you prepared to die?
Titus 2: 3-5, Uncovering the Beauty – An Outline
Uncovering the Beauty – The Titus 2 Older Woman
Photo Credit: The Parable of The Wise and Foolish Virgins
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I so agree that any time we study the Bible in general, but in particular this passage as women, we need to make sure our hearts and spirits are completely yielded to hearing from the Spirit. I will be taking today to pray for a teachable heart and spirit. Thanks for the reminder!
Melissa Multitasking Mama´s last blog post … Halls Refresh Review
A wise older woman :-) once told me her constant prayer was that the Lord would maintain in her a teachable heart. I’ve often thought of her wisdom and prayed for the same thing in me. I know so many people who aren’t teachable…including myself at times. But a teachable heart is one that says “I don’t always get You Lord, but I WANT You…change me!”
Thanks Sarah Mae…I pray I will always be found teachable.
Brooke McGlothlin´s last blog post … When Relationships Change
I think many women get scared when they look at the words “train” and “submit” in association to marriage (or life). I know that I’m not perfect but I like to think that if someone has something to help me improve my marriage that I will take it with godly counsel and listen to them. I know that I have submitted to my own husband because that’s what the Lord says I should do (and I don’t mind that one bit).
S Club Mama´s last blog post … Halloween 2009
Brooke – I really like that prayer – maintain in me a teachable heart…good!
Ah… humility and the teachable spirit. The journey of my life…
Kristi_runwatch´s last blog post … FFF: Printable Finger Puppets!
I am so amazed and so thankful that when God wants you to learn something, he places His teaching in your path so many times that you can’t possibly miss it! Dying to selfish desires has been layed before me now for 2 solid weeks! God knows I am not the best listener, so I am glad he is patient with me!
We not only need to die to self when it comes to loving our husbands, but in so many areas as well. Even as a mom we have to say no to hobbies or activites that take away from our family and homelife. God has called me to this life as wife and mother, and many other things in this world just have to wait while I focus on my heavenly calling.
Thanks for this great reminder, SarahMae!
Cherie´s last blog post … Encouragement
This morning at prayer meeting, my Love and I gave an unexpected lesson on husbands, wives, and their God given responsibilities. After reading and explaining Titus 2, Proverbs 31, and Ephesians 5 (in a couple different languages—so difficult!), the Pastor’s wife had enough (village Gypsy culture in Eastern Europe doesn’t fit those passages).
So she interrupted and said to me, “Carrie, let me ask you a question……. Do you like beans? Because I have a big pot of bean soup in the other room if you’d like some.”
I couldn’t help it; I laughed right out loud. I guess she was ready for an end to the toe stepping. LOL!
WOW! With my anniversary coming up, this really hits home. In fact, it was just last night that amongst friends my husband asked for prayer for our marriage. It was a general request, one that included prayer for us to make one another and our love top priority like we did when we were first married. Life has gotten in the way of that. And life has gotten in the way of me being the wife that God has designed me to be. I repeatedly ask for wisdom in being a godly spouse, but have I really, truly been open to being trainable? I think not. Though I was praying for change, my heart really wasn’t in going THROUGH change. I often say, to become the person God has ordained you to be it takes some painful realizations and change…kind of like open heart surgery. It hurts to change. It takes, like you mentioned, dying to yourself and bearing your cross. And even though it hurts to stay the same some times, people (myself included) tend to think it will hurt less if they just keep to the status quo instead. This post comes in the form of mighty strong conviction for me, because as I try to do it all and know it all, I’ve neglected allowing my Savior to work in and through me. What an eye opener and I pray too, the God would CREATE and maintain in me a teachable heart.
Thanks, SarahMae!
Hmmmm…. train… desire to be transformed… desire to be broken…. desire to be corrected…. desire to love the Savior.
Desiring Virtue´s last blog post … Budgeting for Beggars
Always love these passages. The Lord has always blessed me with amazing Godly women that were decades ahead of me. I regret not always acknowleging them when I was younger. Now, I cherish those women and have told them as well. Young years bring a un-trainable spirit at times. Now as a woman, I take my role differently. I am being trained and training as well. It is a joy to be both, isn’t it?!
You are so right. Once you have the Veil lifted, the accountability is incredible. But it is a path not to fear, but embrace. So I say, bring it on baby!
Mariah´s last blog post … Texas Fun in the Sun
As a young mom who feels decidedly INsane, I find the idea of the word train as “making sane” to be very insightful. So the older women in my life should be helping to “make me sane” in this job of wife, mother, and homemaker – that is an encouraging thought!
I am in the midst of the Beth Moore study on Daniel, and the whole purpose of the study is to become a Daniel in the middle of Babylon, which surrounds us. I think so often we allow the fear to overwhelm us because in the short-term it “feels” better, but then we miss out in the long-term blessings.
Friend Chick´s last blog post … Studying Your Bible Effectively
A very interesting and thoughtful word study from Titus. It’s very easy to want to overlook the hard words and teachings that come from studying scripture. Yet from the pain of growth comes spiritual maturity. Thank you for giving me something to think about…because your right…knowledge requires a decision.
Kristine McGuire´s last blog post … All About Angels
Step away from the fear Sarah Mae. You’ve already begun, keep going. Yes, I will be convicted, I’m sure, however, dying to myself will be no harder than I make it. Therefore, I must choose to make it easy.
When I first began writing for the public, my pseudonym was “Slowly Dying 2 Self.” I only changed it because it was sending the wrong message to other bloggers but anyway, just because I do not “call” myself that publicly anymore, doesn’t mean that I’ve died. I’m still dying, very slowly. So please, study and share, be the sober-minded woman who will train me so that I may be “Dead to Self.”
smooches,
Larie
Larie´s last blog post … …of love is an action
I love this passage in Titus. Have studied and taught it probably more than any other passage in the past six years. And, yet, each time I open it, I feel that battle between flesh & spirit begin to rage. To submit myself – entirely, deeply, willfully – always brings to the surface that selfish part of me that wants “my way.” And yet, when I take that first tiny step toward obedience I am overwhelmed by the vastness of desire God places in me for more of Him and a deeper love of my husband. Great thoughts, my friend, thank you.
TeriLynneU´s last blog post … 4 Ideas for Marriage: Keep It …
Very difficult yet necessary questions for us to ask ourselves. Questions that require more than an off-the-cuff response! Actually, these are questions we must ask ourselves daily because it is a daily walk, a daily picking up our cross and following Him on the difficult path.
Thanks for your post!
Tara´s last blog post … Is There Enough Mercy?