A Titus 2 Chic

                Is there one person in your life that has touched you so deeply, that no matter where you go they are always in your remembrance? You remember the things they said to you, the way they treated you, the love that they showed you, and you know that they have impacted your life in such a great way, that you are better for it? I attended a women’s study at my church the other night and one of the things that was said has stuck out at me, and made me take a look at my own life. She talked about how this one woman had been such a huge influence in her life. This one woman had made such an impact in her walk of faith that she wanted to reciprocate that impact on someone else. The woman that impacted her had so much passion and fire for Jesus that she was encouraged to strive for that same kind of passion. The question that came into my heart was, “Who am I impacting, who is my life and my passion for Jesus touching?”

                The Bible clearly tells us women that we are to be teaching someone, and we are to be taught as well. All of us, no matter how young or how old we are can be teaching someone, and we can be willing and open to be taught. I may be an “older” woman in the eyes of this world, but there is someone older than me who has walked my way before, and there is someone younger than me who needs to be taught the ways the Lord has taken me. We all, no matter our age, are called to be Titus 2 women.

                 “Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.” Titus 2:3-5 NIV

                Are we making an impact in the life of someone else? Are we leaving an impression? We have all, at some point,  woken up from a deep sleep and had the imprint of a pillow or fabric on our faces, we try to rub it off, we try to clean it off with a cold wash cloth, but no matter what we do- the impression is there, and only time will make it disappear. This is similar to how we are to be towards others. Our love and passion for the Lord should be impacting others and leaving an impression upon their lives. My question today to you is, “Who are you impacting? Who is being impressed by your passion for Jesus?”

                Impression means to produce a strong impact on the intellect, feelings and conscience of another. When we seek to leave an impression on someone, we seek to leave them with a strong, favorable or remarkable effect of who we are. One of the very first principles we are taught as we go out into the world to find a job is to leave a good impression, impact the interview so much that they don’t forget who you are. But can we say the same about our Christian lives? Are our Christian lives impacting others and leaving strong impressions of who Jesus is in their hearts?

                Paul writes to us as women and tells us to teach one another. The older women to be reverent, respectable, honorable in the way we live our lives for Jesus. He also tells us that we are to teach what is good. No matter your age- you have a testimony and a witness to share, so share it with someone who is younger than you. Share it with a young girl, or with a new Christian in your body of believers. Paul tells us older women to urge or encourage the younger ones to love their husbands and their children, and to show them through our examples how to live a godly, self-controlled life. All of us, no matter our age, have the opportunity to impact the life of someone else and leave an impression upon their life.

               My desire for all of us women today is that we would look around at the other women in our lives. Take some time to think about that one woman who has impacted your life for Christ, that one woman’s whose passion for Jesus has left such an impression upon you that you will never forget her. Now, I want us to seek to be that woman for someone else. It could be your daughter, your niece, your best-friend’s teenager, or even someone at church that you have gotten to know. Whoever she is, seek the Lord, ask Him to show you the way that you can be the impression she needs to encourage her in the way of Faith.

                We need to lead purposeful, determined lives. The only way the younger generation will know God as we know Him is if we strive to teach them who He is. The only way the younger generations will know the goodness of God in Jesus Christ is if we tell them, teach them, and impress upon them what He has done for us. The way that the children of Israel knew of God through each generation was because someone told them about Him. They talked about Him to them, they shared their testimonies, and they left an impression upon the hearts of those who were younger than them.

                Being an “older” woman is not necessarily about age. I believe Paul is referring to our maturity level in the Lord. You may be 40 some years old and have been walking with the Lord for 30 years, but someone out there has been walking longer, and someone out there is just beginning their walk. No matter how old you are, there is always someone older who can teach us, and always someone younger whom we can teach. We must be willing to be these women, these women who take time out of our daily lives to make an impression upon the hearts of others, and to impact someone’s life for Christ. Your passion, your testimony, your life for Christ could be just what this young woman needs to continue on her journey of faith. You may be the only Jesus this young girl ever sees. Be willing to teach, and be willing to be taught.

                It is my prayer today that all of us women, no matter how old or how young, would seek to find that one woman, that one girl who needs to see Jesus. We cannot live this Christian life alone, someone will impact you, or the world will impress you and you will fall away. Let it not be said of us that we failed to impact and impress the love of Jesus Christ on the world around us. It only takes one person, one willing heart to change the life of someone else- are you willing to be that one person?

                Father God, I pray today that we, as your women, would seek to impact and to make an impression on the life of someone else. Father, that we would share our passion, our love and our knowledge of You with them. Father, give us the strength to be the Titus 2 women you have called us to be. In Jesus Name, Amen and Amen.