Essential #1: Godliness
"The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness..." Titus 2:3
"How are we to live our lives as women with a high calling? Our calling is to godly behavior, to sacred behavior, to holy behavior. Our conduct must compliment our high calling in Christ."
"Can you fathom any higher calling than godliness? Any more important essential for godly living? Can you imagine any more wonderful way to spend your life and your time and your days and your moments than to spend them in the Lord, immersed in Him, looking to Him, desiring Him and the riches (and the richness!) of His grace above all that this poor world offers? You and I are above all others most blessed to possess such a glorious calling!"
Elizabeth George starts out this chapter, this first essential, by detailing a trip to England that her and her husband, Jim, went on together to attend their church's European missions conference. This trip is such a profound illustration of godliness, godly behavior, that I simply must share the highlights of the visit.
They went to the Canterbury Cathedral in Kent, England. She points out that the area of Kent has a rich Christian heritage dating back to the days of Saint Augustine and the Canterbury Cathedral is one of the finest cathedrals in England.
While her and her husband were walking through the cathedral, admiring the stunning architecture and furnishings, they became "quietly aware" of the people who served and worshiped in the cathedral. What brought these people to their attention was not any flashy displays, or loud voices of prayer, but rather their silent ways of movement and action that displayed a silent reverence for their surroundings. As she decribes:
"They moved reverently - never for a second forgetting that they were in a place of worship. They spoke little, if at all, and always in quiet tones. One could almost sense their awareness that they were in the presence of God. The already ethereal ambiance was further heightened by the sounds of a women's choir in rehearsal. Their voices and the strains of their hymns literally soared upward (and without the aid of a man-made audio system!) to the heights of the nave and the drifted down again, filling the 522 foot length of the cathedral with an inescapable sweetness. The women, singing without accompaniment as they practiced for the Evensong service to be held later that day, were nowhere in sight. In fact, we had to go searching for them. Peering through an iron gate, we caught a mere glimpse of them, all dressed alike in black skirts and white blouses, standing behind the aged wooden railings that marked out the choir loft, singing in unison to the Lord, quite oblivious to the many who sought to get a peek at them."
What a majestic picture of godliness, godly behavior. Mrs. George goes on to say that the visit to the Canterbury Cathedral was very spiritually uplifting. This was so not (only) because of the amazing architecture, but what contributed most to this experience for them were the people who served and worshiped in the cathedral. The reverence displayed in those who served also inspired the same attitude within them. She goes on to explain:
"Suddenly we found ourselves whispering. Why? They were quiet... therefore we were quiet. Without our noticing, our breakneck tourist pace slowed to a stroll. Why? Because they were moving silently, reverently, worshipfully (if there is such a word)... therefore we did, too. One couldn't help but pray in such a place. Again, why? Because the church attendants and choir seemed to be absorbed in worship and in the God they served... therefore we were, too. ... Somehow, the reverential behavior of others brought us to a fresh new awareness of God's presence."
Now, what does this experience have to do with US? Looking at the Scripture reference in Titus 2:3, we see the first of such 'pink passages' in the Bible, which states that women (aged women, likewise, but it is applicable to ALL women of God) should "be in behaviour as becometh holiness..." or should exhibit godly behavior. The high calling to godliness is the first and foremost calling in a woman of God's life.
In this, as the beginning, Elizabeth George issues a gentle warning:
"I must warn you - there's no tiptoeing into our calling. There's no warming up to the godly qualities that we'll be looking at in [these studies]. And there is no apprenticeship. No, God doesn't ease us into His summons on our ife. He instead commences His call right at the core, at the deepest (and highest!) level of our calling - and that is this first calling, a calling to Himself. Because what's inside our hearts affects our behavior, God asks that our relationship with Him be the catalyst that creates in us behavior befitting one who has a relationship with the living God. He wants our actions to be reverent, godly, worshipful, and holy."
Although Scripture addresses this verse directly to the older women in the Body of Christ, it is a high calling laid before each and every one of us, young and old. Why? Because it "points first to our spirit of worship and calls us to be reverent in all of our behavior."
And yes, it is a high calling indeed.
Blessings!
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