CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS
26 DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE ALPHABET:
THE LETTER Y
Monte Holland
Several persons have expressed an interest in having my husband, the Rev. Monte W. Holland, post an online series of devotions. Through their encouragement, Monte will post a weekly devotion on CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS. To read the introduction click on 26 Devotions Based on the Alphabet: Introduction. Click on 26 Devotions Based on the Alphabet: The Letter X to read the previous post on the letter X.
Return to this site each Saturday to read his devotions. Carolyn C. Holland
ALPHABET OF THE BIBLE – THE LETTER Y
Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. (Titus 2:6)
This verse leads us to the larger passage of the letter of St. Paul to Titus:
1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: 2 that the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. 3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. 6 Young men likewise exhort to be soberminded. 7 In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8 sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. (Titus 2:1-8, KJV)
There is a larger picture here. Paul challenges Titus to good works—sharing sincere doctrine to the best of his ability, speaking carefully, and telling the truth in such a way that hearers will be touched to their cores. Unfortunately, in making his long list of traits of various groups of followers of Christ, Paul singles out certain traits for each group.
Was drinking too much wine a problem specific to older women? Is Paul right when he expects young women who follow Christ to be obedient to their husbands and good little housekeepers for them?
If we get away from these specifics and look at the long list of traits, we have for ourselves characteristics of solid Christian living that are not age or sex specific.
Looking at the whole picture in this way, the young men of our alphabet verse are not only challenged to be sober minded, but also to be temperate, sound in faith, in charity, and in patience. They should be holy, teach good things; they should not be false accusers, drink too much wine. They should love their wives, love their children, be discrete, faithful in marriage, and keep up their truck, basement and garage. They should be good, obedient to their wives, and not blaspheme God’s word.
The verse unfolds to us a whole list of characteristics of the Christian life for all of us. It would be easy to envision our sober young man, as the man in the famous picture American Gothic, standing erect , unsmiling, pitchfork in hand — ready to give his next command to his obedient wife at his side and the children who are nearby beyond the picture. That is not the real truth of this passage.
Our young people, men and women alike, are challenged to live up to these traits of followers of Christ, no easy task in a complex world. It will only happen when people of all ages respect the struggle younger persons face in this world, and do their best to lead by example, as we older folk do our best to entrust them with a future with real promise and not filled with problems we have created for them.
To read 26 DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE ALPHABET: THE LETTER Z, click on 26 Devotions Based on the Alphabet: The Letter Z
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don’t miss Monte’s devotions.
Subscribe to CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS today
TO RECEIVE E-MAIL NOTIFICATION
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(to subscribe see upper right hand post on this site—
Notification will begin after you confirm your subscription
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Your e-mail address will not be published. )
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ADDITIONAL READING:
26 Devotions Based on the Alphabet: Introduction
When Children’s Service Agencies Won’t Respond to Complaints
A Different Face of Homelessness
For Josh: In Memory of LCpl. Joshua T. Twigg
Mika’s Escapades
February’s Prelude to Spring
Grog Recipes
To Reclaim a Family Farm—Or Not
Hungarian Carnival in Darlington, PA
Banish Writer’s Block
Are We Computer Addicted? A 1997 Prediction
Mosquito Nets Fight Malaria in Africa
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26 Devotions Based on the Alphabet: The Letter Y
Tags: A Frayed List of Twenty-Six “Alphabet” Bible Verses, All, All posts, Alphabet devotion based on the letter Y, Bible, Christianity, Church, COMMENTARY, Contemplation, DEVOTIONS, God, Inspiration, Inspirational, Jesus, Latest post, Life, Lifestyle, Meditation, Misc., Miscellaneous, Musings, Reflections, Spirituality, Theology, Thoughts, Titus 2:1-8, Titus 2:6, Weekly devotions based on the alphabet, Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded
CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS
26 DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE ALPHABET:
THE LETTER Y
Monte Holland
Several persons have expressed an interest in having my husband, the Rev. Monte W. Holland, post an online series of devotions. Through their encouragement, Monte will post a weekly devotion on CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS. To read the introduction click on 26 Devotions Based on the Alphabet: Introduction. Click on 26 Devotions Based on the Alphabet: The Letter X to read the previous post on the letter X.
Return to this site each Saturday to read his devotions. Carolyn C. Holland
ALPHABET OF THE BIBLE – THE LETTER Y
This verse leads us to the larger passage of the letter of St. Paul to Titus:
1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: 2 that the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. 3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. 6 Young men likewise exhort to be soberminded. 7 In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8 sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. (Titus 2:1-8, KJV)
There is a larger picture here. Paul challenges Titus to good works—sharing sincere doctrine to the best of his ability, speaking carefully, and telling the truth in such a way that hearers will be touched to their cores. Unfortunately, in making his long list of traits of various groups of followers of Christ, Paul singles out certain traits for each group.
Was drinking too much wine a problem specific to older women? Is Paul right when he expects young women who follow Christ to be obedient to their husbands and good little housekeepers for them?
If we get away from these specifics and look at the long list of traits, we have for ourselves characteristics of solid Christian living that are not age or sex specific.
Looking at the whole picture in this way, the young men of our alphabet verse are not only challenged to be sober minded, but also to be temperate, sound in faith, in charity, and in patience. They should be holy, teach good things; they should not be false accusers, drink too much wine. They should love their wives, love their children, be discrete, faithful in marriage, and keep up their truck, basement and garage. They should be good, obedient to their wives, and not blaspheme God’s word.
The verse unfolds to us a whole list of characteristics of the Christian life for all of us. It would be easy to envision our sober young man, as the man in the famous picture American Gothic, standing erect , unsmiling, pitchfork in hand — ready to give his next command to his obedient wife at his side and the children who are nearby beyond the picture. That is not the real truth of this passage.
Our young people, men and women alike, are challenged to live up to these traits of followers of Christ, no easy task in a complex world. It will only happen when people of all ages respect the struggle younger persons face in this world, and do their best to lead by example, as we older folk do our best to entrust them with a future with real promise and not filled with problems we have created for them.
To read 26 DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE ALPHABET: THE LETTER Z, click on 26 Devotions Based on the Alphabet: The Letter Z
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don’t miss Monte’s devotions.
Subscribe to CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS today
TO RECEIVE E-MAIL NOTIFICATION
OF NEW POSTS
(to subscribe see upper right hand post on this site—
Notification will begin after you confirm your subscription
in the e-mail you will receive from wordpress.com.
Your e-mail address will not be published. )
~~~~~~~~~~~~
ADDITIONAL READING:
26 Devotions Based on the Alphabet: Introduction
When Children’s Service Agencies Won’t Respond to Complaints
A Different Face of Homelessness
For Josh: In Memory of LCpl. Joshua T. Twigg
Mika’s Escapades
February’s Prelude to Spring
Grog Recipes
To Reclaim a Family Farm—Or Not
Hungarian Carnival in Darlington, PA
Banish Writer’s Block
Are We Computer Addicted? A 1997 Prediction
Mosquito Nets Fight Malaria in Africa
Like this: