2 As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching. ² Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience.

³ Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. ⁴ These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, ⁵ to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.

⁶ In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely. ⁷ And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. ⁸ Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.

Titus 2:1-8

Dear God, there is something so sweet and basic about these instructions to Titus, and yet following them can be elusive. Now that I’ve moved into the older crowd–especially at work–my example is important. I have a young man who works with me, and I am sure I am a wholly unique man compared with the other men he knows in his life. I hope you are able to do something positive for him through me. I have many young women who work with me. While I am not the womanly example you need them to have, I am an example. Just yesterday, I texted a sermon link to a single mom who is raising her daughter and also has responsibility in raising two younger sisters who are just a little older than her daughter but not much. It was Father Mike Schmitz’s homily from the Gospel reading yesterday in the Catholic Church. It was talking about the value each one of us has. I think it’s an important message for everyone, but in this case I wanted to share it with her and her girls. I hope it makes a difference.

Then there are those I love over whom I have very little influence whether it is due to lack of proximity or broken relationships. My prayer for them this morning is that you will raise up people in their lives who be your example to them. Give them a sense of you and who you want them to be. Love them with a father’s love. A mother’s love. Give them mentors. Show them how much you love them–how much they count–through the people you put around them.

Father, I have a lot of things to do today. A lot of tasks. But the most important one is to be your example, and then also look for examples that I myself can follow. Put Godly men and women in my path today who can teach me, encourage me, and love me with your love. That starts with my wife. Thank you for the love you show me through her and what you teach me through her. She’s amazing. You do so much for me, but it all starts with her. I am grateful.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen