Titus 2:1-8 (NLT)
1 As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching. 2 Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience. 3 Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. 4 These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, 5 to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God. 6 In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely. 7 And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. 8 Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.

The Apostle Paul gives guidance to Titus about his course of ministry and several of the groups of persons he is to direct. Each one, including Titus, is to live in a wise manner such that their lives encourage others.

There is a story I always think about when I am reminded we are to live our lives in a positive and wise way to encourage and give good examples for others to follow. The story goes that there were several cars at a traffic light. When the light turned green the lead car wasn’t paying attention, so the lady in the car behind them started blowing her horn repeatedly; then she leaned out the window and started yelling in an attempt to get the other driver to move. After a few moments of yelling words such as stupid, idiot, and moron the lead car moved through the light just in time for it to turn red again and trap the woman at the light. Once again she leaned out to yell a few more phrases as the car was driving off ahead of her. She then heard a police siren and behind her was a patrol car with the blue lights on. The officer walked up to the car and asked her for her license and registration. She politely handed them over. After checking them he handed them back to the woman and told her she could go. She said, “Wait, what was that all about?” The officer said, “Well I saw all the commotion taking place and then noticed the Christian sticker on the back of your car. There for a moment I thought perhaps the car had been stolen because you sure weren’t acting like I thought the owner of the car should be acting.” Others are watching our lives and we should live our lives in a way that gives good testimony to the name of Jesus who died for our sins.