Feminine Appeal

“Our behavior has the potential to discredit the gospel,” Mom cautioned us on Tuesday. But that’s not all: our behavior can actually commend the gospel! Here Mom closes her opening chapter in Feminine Appeal and here we will conclude our series as well:

“As [Titus 2] verse 10 says, we can ‘adorn’ the gospel with our lives. To ‘adorn’ means to put something beautiful or attractive on display—like placing a flawless gemstone in a setting that uniquely shows off its brilliance. The gospel is like the most valuable of jewels. It is the pearl of great price.

Make no mistake, by adorning the gospel, we are not enhancing or improving it. The gospel cannot be improved! But by cultivating the feminine qualities listed in Titus 2, we can present the gospel as attractive, impressive, and pleasing to a watching world.

Several years ago while we were on a family outing, a gentlemen approached my husband and said, “Sir, I’ve been observing you for some time, and I have never seen a family relate like yours. How do you do it?”

My husband and I and our children had simply been enjoying one another’s company—laughing together and showing affection. But what was ordinary interaction between our family members was curiously attractive to this stranger. Our behavior provided C.J. the opportunity to share the gospel with him. My husband explained that we are simply a family of sinners—but sinners whose lives have been transformed by the power of the gospel. And that was the reason for the difference this man observed.

Although we might not always be aware, people are watching our lives. If we exhibit the qualities from Titus 2 such as love for our families or purity or kindness, we are promoting the gospel. And the unbelievers who see us—be they family member, friend, neighbor, or stranger—may actually be drawn to the gospel by the way we live. How extraordinary!

The climax of Titus 2 announces that “the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.” It heralds the news of “our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness” (vv. 11-14).

The seven feminine virtues [of Titus 2] are not an end in themselves. They point to the transforming effect of the gospel in the lives of women—women who have turned from their sins and trusted in the Savior, women whose sins have been forgiven and whose hearts have been changed.

Can you conceive of anything that sets forth the beauty of the gospel jewel more brilliantly than the godly behavior of those who have received it? Consider the loveliness of a woman who passionately adores her husband, who tenderly cherishes her children, who creates a warm and peaceful home, who exemplifies purity, self-control, and kindness in her character and who gladly submits to her husband’s leadership—for all the days God grants her life. I dare say there are few things that display the gospel jewel with greater elegance. This is true feminine appeal.

Why do we blog about biblical womanhood? We want to give those who oppose God's Word nothing evil to say about us. But more than that, we want to do our measly bit, together with you, to commend the “grace of God [that] has appeared, giving salvation for all people” (Tit. 2:11).