ALL THE OLDER LADIES
"Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips or enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subjects to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be dishonored."
Titus 2:3-5
A few years ago, Beyonce had a famous song that was a shout-out to "All the Single Ladies." Today, I want to shout-out to "All the Older Ladies." (But all the others can read too!)
I talked to a friend of mine the other day who is 75 years old and struggling with a number of physical issues. She told me, "Jeff, getting old is hard. Your body just starts to fall apart. Everything is either stopped up or leaking!" How true. Getting old is certainly not for cowards.
But God has a plan for older people ... especially older ladies. You see, one of the great things about God is that He is a God of purpose. When His purpose for your life is fulfilled, then and only then does He take you home. So if you are getting older and feeling that your usefulness for God has passed, think again. He has a plan for you regardless of your age.
So what does He say to "all the older ladies"?
1. Grow more like Jesus as you grow older. Let reverence and holiness be ever increasing. Grow in your relationship with Jesus so that "the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him" goes forth in every place you go ... especially as you get older.
2. Watch out for your tongue! Obviously from Titus 2:3 we can infer that older women may struggle with gossip (we all struggle with it, but older women maybe more so?). God says watch your tongue because death and life are in its power (Prov. 18:21). Interestingly, "malicious gossips" in verse 3 is the Greek word from which we get diabolos from which we get devil. The devil is a slanderer and a false accuser (the meaning of the word). Don't let your tongue be loose in spreading unsubstantiated rumors, half-truth, and strife-producing items of information. Use your tongue to promote healing and build people up in the faith.
3. Don't let any substance enslave you. Steer clear of anything that would develop a mastery over you. Let God's Spirit have full and complete control over you.
4. Invest your life in encouraging and training younger women. Teach them from your successes and failures. Encourage them to be a good wife and mom. Help them be domestically inclined (what the phrase "workers at home" means) and to create a sweet, beautiful and wonderful home. And most of all, help them fulfill their role in the marriage - as that of helper (how the Holy Spirit is described in the Bible). The husband's role is to be the head, the leader. That means if things crater in the marriage and family, he is the one God holds chiefly responsible. The wife's role is to respect her husband, help her husband and submit to his loving leadership. A dysfunctional family is one in which the wife takes the steering wheel, puts on the pants and calls the shots. In that sad but all too common scenario, the word of God is dishonored (literally blasphemed) and the whole family suffers, especially the children.
Older ladies, you have a BIG job assignment from the Lord. Your life and usefulness are not over just because you have entered the senior years. God has LOTS He wants to do in and through you to make a lasting difference in the generations that are following behind you. May you take God at His word and step up to the task.
Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve,
From His Heart Ministries
Dr. Jeff Schreve believes that no matter how badly you may have messed up in life, God still loves you and has a wonderful plan just for you. From His Heart provides real truth, love and hope on over 700 radio stations each day, in 182 countries each week on TV, and is always available online. Pastor Jeff takes no income from this ministry. All donations go to furthering the broadcast outreach. As a listener/viewer supported ministry, we thank you for joining with us to help speak the truth in love to a lost and hurting world. Go to www.fromhisheart.org for more information.
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