Likewise

We will be spending some time thinking about the godly character of members of the OWC. It isn't enough to simply be a certain age. A member of the "older woman club" must have godly character that is consistent with her profession of faith. Before a woman opens her mouth with teaching, she must first humbly examine her life and character closely.

This isn't to say an older woman has to be perfect (we all know too well, that isn't possible this side of heaven). But her deepest desire and the direction of her life is to be as "godly as a redeemed sinner can possibly be."

In Titus 2, Paul doesn't give vague generalities. I find this interesting. Throughout the New Testament, Christ and the apostles are not hesitant to give us clear guidelines for how to live the christian life. We are not at liberty to pick and choose which of God's clear commands we will obey. We must, with dependence on the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us live, do as Peter says: "as obedient children do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy'" (1 Peter 1:14,15).

Membership in the OWC carries with it certain responsibilities.

First we read women are to be like the older men. Verse 3 reads: "Older women likewise..." Like what? Verse 2 tells us: "Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love and in steadfastness."

So are we.

In the next six weeks we will dig into each of these, to find their meaning and hopefully learn together how we can be pursuing a mature and godly perspective and lifestyle.

And, if you are not yet an OWC member, may I suggest you read along so that you may be inspired to begin to pursue these qualities? One thing is certain. When you turn 50 you are not zapped with godliness. These are things that are learned and pursued, by God's grace, over a lifetime. And yet, if you are a new believer (or an older believer), despite years of living otherwise, God is ready to pour out His grace upon you to enable you to pursue these things beginning right now.

If we have been given the incredible gift of salvation through Christ alone, may we all ask ourselves this question, "How shall we now live for the Glory of God and the good of the church?"