December 12 Daily Devotional

Older Men and Women

Charles and Norma Ellis

Bible Reading:

Titus 2:1-5

¹But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
²That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
³The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
⁴That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
⁵To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Devotional:

Are you an older man? God would have you to 'be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance' (2:2 NIV).

Are you among the older women? God would have you to 'be reverent in the way' you 'live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.' Then you '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'(2:3,4,5 NIV).

These are precious teachings for us. But the wonderful thing about this chapter is the way verse 14 draws everything together to supply a tremendous motivating purpose to each part. Christ 'gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good' (2:14 NIV). This is why the older men and women are to live exemplary lives! This is why the older women are to teach the younger women to provide homes where tomorrow's Christians may be schooled, Christians whose lives exhibit the purity and eagerness to do good which should characterize Christ's people.

Old age is not a time for self-pampering, for unlimited relaxation. It is not a time exclusively for indulging in the hobby for which busier days allowed little opportunity. It is a time in which the stability and dignity and self-control and temperance developed through the years by the grace of God may shine forth as 'the fruit of the Spirit' before younger people so that their sights may be set, and so that we together may be a people that are Christ's, 'eager to do what is good.'

We are happy to have obtained permission to post as our current daily devotional Heirs Together of Life: Daily Bible Reading for Husbands and Wives, published by The Banner of Truth Trust. Don't be misled by the subtitle. As the book's "Preface" indicates (see below), although Heirs Together of Life is "especially prepared for couples,"the authors declare, "Since the basis for this guide is God's Word, we believe it would have value for any reader."

Charles and Norma Ellis are husband and wife and the authors not only of Heirs Together of Life (which was first published in 1980 and continues in print today), but also of Wells of Salvation (first published in 1985, and likewise still in print today). The latter contains a series of short studies covering the entire book of Isaiah, while the former contains a series of almost 200 short studies covering the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Both books by the Ellises can be ordered from the publisher, The Banner of Truth Trust. We trust that these daily Bible readings, posted daily on our site, will be helpful to you in your Christian walk before God. Whether married or not, all of us are members of families and members of the family of God.

Charles Ellis was educated at Wheaton College and Westminster Theological Seminary. Upon graduation from Westminster (where he earned not only a Th.B. but also a Th.M.), he was ordained to the ministry in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and pastored a number of OPC churches, including Immanuel OPC in West Collingswood, New Jersey; First OPC in Cincinnati, Ohio; Covenant OPC in East Orange, New Jersey; Knox OPC in Silver Spring, Maryland; and Lakeview OPC in Rockport, Maine. Less biographical information is available about his wife, but it is known that they served as parents of seven children. After retiring from the ministry, Charles Ellis went to be with the Lord in 2003, but he and his wife left us with a beautiful legacy in the two books they have given to the world, and we are proud to share the daily Bible readings from Heirs Together of Life here with you.