“The fact that I am a woman does not make
me a different kind of Christian,
but the fact that I am a Christian
DOES make me a different kind of woman.
For I have accepted God’s idea
of me, and my whole life is an offering back to Him
So…who does He want us to be?
In Titus 2:4-5, we see that we are to be discreet, chaste, and good. Another translation reads sensible, pure, and kind.
GOOD = kind. And kindness = love expressed in actions.
Galatians 5:22 speaks of the fruits of the spirit–and two are goodness and kindness.
Romans 12:10 says, “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.”
1 Corinthians 13:4 – “Love suffers long and is kind“
Proverbs 19:22 – “What is desired in a man is kindness“
So…why do we want to be good?
2 Peter 1:5-11 = “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things, you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
And isn’t THAT what it is all about??? YES!!!
Sometimes, it seems hard to be good! You know, when I’m stuck in traffic, dealing with noisy neighbors, frustrated with my small children…
But no matter what happens to us here on this earth, we are to be as God tells us–kind to everyone!
The Lord says, “Vengeance is MINE–I will repay” for what others do to us, for He says “whatsoever you do to the lease of these, you have done to Me”…and that is for how we treat others, and for how those others treat us.
He goes on to say, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
He tells us, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good”…and here is what that goodness/kindness brings: repentance! (Romans 2:4)
And this passage follows up with “be doers of the Word, not just hearers of the Word”…so be kind and good!
DISCREET
= sensible, sober-minded, self-controlled, use good judgment
Proverbs 2:10-13 – “When Wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you”
Romans 12:3 – And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
The dictionary definition is “having or showing discernment or good judgment in conduct and especially in speech”.
As I was studying this topic, I found that the word described speech and behavior mostly–particularly referencing behaviors that draw attention to ourselves and speech that doesn’t keep private matters private.
CHASTE
= Pure (specifically regarding sexual purity)
But also–purity of heart–2nd Corinthians 11:2 – “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”
Remember–God wants to be FIRST. (He is a God of order, not balance…more on this later.)
Chastity means abstention from sexual activity outside of marriage and is a Christian obligation. For the Christian–there are two rules–(1) Total abstention prior to marriage and (2) Total faithfulness once you are married. (1 Cor. 7:1-9)
Romans 12:1-3 – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”
1 Corinthians 6:12-20 – “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body. Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, “The two shall become one flesh.” But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.”
***Just a side-thought: I’m not writing any of this to judge you, dear readers. But if this lifestyle of chastity does not describe your life as of this moment, know that there is a new birth, a new beginning, a new creation available through the blood of Jesus! (2 Cor. 5:17) And if your life has not been a life of chastity, make that choice right now! Your past can be forgiven, your flesh washed clean! All you have to do is ask Him for that forgiveness and accept the price being paid for you! Confess Him as your savior, repent from these ways, and then find a local church to baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit for the remission of your sins. Then remember what Jesus said to the adulterous woman–”Neither do I condemn you (in other words, your sins are forgiven”…and He also said to her, “Go and sin no more.” And He said to the man healed at the pool at Bethesda (John 5:14)…”See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” You have the ability through the blood of the Lamb to “go and sin no more”!***
I challenge you today to find ways to be more KIND, DISCREET, and CHASTE! Share with me your ideas in the comments!
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