My Challenge For You: Titus 2
Last month we had a ladies tea at my church. I got to help plan the event, and it was SO fun. A while ago I read the book Adorned by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, which is all about being a Titus 2 woman. Nancy outlines how God called us to live lives where we are reaching up and have a mentor, and where we are reaching down and mentoring others.
Titus 2:4 says, “These older women must train and teach the younger women…”
Don’t get offended by this Bible verse! We are all the older woman to someone and we are all the younger woman to someone!
Nancy DeMoss says, “But we are not running by ourselves. God intends for our lives to intersect with one another, to carry each other forward under the strong, victorious, banner of Christ.”
There are two Biblical examples I want to point out to you all.
#1: Jesus and his disciples
Jesus has a fishing theme for his ministry. Right at the beginning in Matthew 4:18-22 Jesus is walking along the shore and calls his first disciples. He tells them, “Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Jesus asked these 12 men to follow Him wherever he went. He taught, loved and served them. They traveled together, ate together, and spent a lot of time together.
Back in Jesus’ time people used nets to fish with. Nets are woven together. We also need to be weaving nets. Each of us is a string; and as we begin to talk and reach out to other women, our lives begin to intertwine. The strings connect to form a strong bond as we do life together and walk alongside one another.
Another verse in Matthew 13:47 reads, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind.”
#2: Elizabeth and Mary
In Luke chapter 1 we encounter two ladies who find out they are pregnant: Elizabeth and Mary. As I was studying this passage, something jumped out at me for the first time. The angel tells Mary something interesting: Elizabeth is pregnant too. Angel was encouraging Mary to reach out. Mary might have never known Elizabeth was pregnant until a much later time if it wasn’t for the angel. Mary then traveled 80-100 miles to visit Elizabeth and stay with her for a while.
I can only imagine what those three months were like with them together. Planning, dreaming, wondering, questioning, studying, learning from one another.
It can be a challenge to take the time to invest in others. It involves extreme sacrifice. Mary had to travel many miles… Elizabeth gave up time preparing for the baby to hang out with Mary. But in the end, it’s always worth it. All our tangled, messy lives create a beautiful tapestry when they are together.
Now what?
You might be thinking you are not qualified enough to be a mentor to someone else or can’t do it, but God has and will equip you. He uses all of us in our brokenness to do things for His kingdom. Look at the guys God rested the whole fate of the church on – the 12 disciples. They were fishermen and tax collectors. They were not Bible scholars or highly educated men. They were the least qualified guys.
It can be scary and difficult. Like I said, it will involve sacrifice.
In Matthew 16:24-25 we read that Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
Nancy DeMoss says, “Yes, we will feel overwhelmed at times. Choosing to invest in other women or to receive another’s counsel and care involves cost and sacrifice. But none of that can compare with the refreshment, connectedness, and joy we receive from these relationships, not to mention the greater joy of glorifying God through fruitful lives.”
Challenge
Start praying today about who you can reach up to and ask to be your mentor. Start praying about who you can reach down to and pour into.
Freebie
Do you like the verse card on this page? It was an exclusive freebie for the ladies who are on my newsletter list! I send out freebies, discount codes, and faith inspiration right to your inbox. It’s one of my favorite places to connect and talk with you all.
Click HERE to subscribe to my English newsletter list!
Click HERE to subscribe to my Spanish newsletter list.