Titus 2:1-8 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 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.
This mandate has been on my heart for quite some time. A few years ago this verse got me to thinking about all the women who had poured into my life. My mom is number one, of course. She’s been gone from this earth for about eleven years now, but I still hear her voice in my head sometimes! But am I allowing others to pour God’s truth into me? Am I opening my heart and listening to what the wiser women around me have to say? Do I have a mentor, a Titus 2 woman that is teaching me the good things, the sound doctrine? I believe my mom helped give me a great foundation on how to love my husband and submit to him and how to love God. I miss her and I still need her voice in my head sometimes but who I am I allowing to pour truth into me right now? And then I think of my husband. Who is pouring truth into him? Does he have someone to teach him the sound doctrine of being a good father, a good husband, a good friend?
This scripture also begs the question of who am I pouring into? I’m not nearly as wise and experienced as some of the women around me, but I’ve had experience. I’ve had hard times that have taught me great lessons. And while I don’t consider myself “older” I have been on my Christian journey for 32 years now. So who’s life am I touching with the truths that I do know?
The theme is coming up often. I’ve heard it during my personal development when I listen to my podcasts. I’ve heard through others the desire to be mentored. I’ve prayed for it for myself and my husband. Just last Sunday our Sunday School lesson touched on the subject. And this morning as I’m driving to work the radio program I listen to each morning was all about a mentoring program. God is working here. He wants to build up his children. He wants to remind us that we have a responsibility to not only listen to our wiser counterparts, but to give of ourselves to those who are younger and in need of a compass to guide them through the troubled times they will face as a young Christian.
Being the mentor isn’t necessarily about giving direct instruction and hammering on right and wrong. Sometimes it’s just having a cup of coffee and sharing what God has done for us and where he’s brought us from to encourage the younger generation to not give up, to keep pressing, to find the expected end (Jeremiah 29:11). It’s really all about relationship and opening our heart and finding some transparency to share not only our triumphs, but our failures as well.
I encourage you today to pray that God will send you a godly Titus 2 saint that will help you build your foundations of faith. If you know someone you admire and would love to learn more from then invite them for a cup of coffee and build a relationship. I also encourage you to give of yourself to help someone else in this journey. Be the mentor, the confidante, the friend that someone can turn to for advice and godly counsel. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist, just a willing heart and a faith based on sound doctrine!
What about you, who are the people that pour into your life?
Do you have a list of mentors that you can remember and bless because of how they helped you in your Faith Journey?
Are you pouring into someone to help them on their journey?
Dear Jesus,
Please help me find someone that will pour into me the sound doctrine you speak about in Titus 2. Bring that person into my life and give me the courage to ask them for a cup of coffee. I pray that you will give me wisdom and that I can in turn pour into the lives of others that need a solid foundation in their faith. Help me to listen to what the wise tell me so I can be wise in helping others.
In Jesus Name ~ Amen