Teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
Titus 2:3-5
One of the sectional leaders at the 2010 GEMS Annual Counselors’ Leadership Conference was Marianne, an eighty-year old sister in Jesus. Here were some of the reviews that she received from her sectional: * Was wonderful to be mentored by a sweet, sweet lady. * Very funny, good info. * What a wonderful Christian example! * Phenomenal! * Marianne was great – full of zeal, full of life, a great example to keep the faith. * Appreciate her honesty – she’s still growing and learning. * Loved having an older, mature woman to learn from – Titus 2!
In the last six months I’ve heard more than one woman question if she’s getting too old to continue to lead in GEMS. Should I retire? When is old too old? Is it time for me to step down? The answer to when we should step out of GEMS must be based on the prompting from the Spirit, not from the dates on our birth certificates!
Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh (Exodus 7:7) and they did a lot of living after that! Moses and Aaron served the Lord until the day they died. Moses was 120 years old; Aaron was 123 (Deuteronomy 34:7, Numbers 33:39).
The number of our days and years were ordained and written in God’s book before the day of our birth (Psalm 139:16). Life passes quickly like an evening shadow, withered grass, or mist (Psalm 102:11, James 4:14). Let’s pray with Moses, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). Teach us to number our days so we can teach as many young girls and women as possible to be self-controlled, pure, kind, and reverent in the way they live (Titus 2:3-5).
As mentors within and outside of the GEMS ministry, we must zealously persevere in the face of inconvenience, challenges, weariness, disappointments, or anything else that would drain our zeal to live as He requires. This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus (Revelation 14:12). Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the LORD, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).
PASSION Step: Read Chapter 2 of Crazy Love by Francis Chan. Ask the Lord to help you zealously persevere in Titus 2 ministry no matter what your age.
A long, hard, steady, hold-the-course obedience is a rare and wonderful thing.
John Piper
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