Living Words of Encouragement

Priestly Lifestyle

You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. Teach the older me to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.
(Titus 2:1-3)

God has called each of us that have given our lives to Him to be priests. He wants us to embrace the call to minister to others. The older men and women in the body have a duty to show themselves approved unto God. Then and only then can they become the type of people that God wants to lead the younger people in the body.

In the book of Titus 2:3 Paul gives uses the word “reverent” to describe how the older women in the body of believers should be. Reverence is profound awe, devotion and respect for someone; showing love for another. God expects the elder men and women in the body, not necessarily in age, but in wisdom, to look towards the needs of the younger brothers and sisters. The older should see to the growth of the younger and that they are inline with Gods Word. However, in order for this to happen the older women must be in line with Gods teachings. The younger sisters should look to the older women with respect.

You are, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
(I Peter 2:5)

God wants everything we do to be acceptable to Him. He wants us to give ourselves to Him as a holy priesthood. The term priesthood lets us know that we can’t do this thing alone. We can’t walk this walk alone. We need others that are likeminded and committed to God to be the priesthood. This priesthood is a network of believers, coming together to serve God first, then to serve one another and finally to serve the lost. As each of us gets connected to Christ we become the living stone.

If we do what we are supposed to do in leading God’s younger people, He will be pleased and we will be blessed by following God’s teachings. God wants us to be the bridge within the church that helps the young people stay in line with God.

Remember that God has called you to His royal priesthood.

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