BEHAVE YOURSELF

(Love) doth not behave itself unseemly,
seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked,
thinketh no evil....
I Corinthians 13:5

Most of us probably can't remember when we first heard the word “behave.” I know I heard it while quite young. I didn't know what it meant, but it was usually said to me when our family was going to go out where my Mother didn't want me to embarrass her. I pretty much knew what she meant with that mild exhortation. It got really bad if she had to say it on location of the event. I learned through the years that when I heard the word “behave” that there was a certain expectation of my behavior while in adult company. The same expectations also applied no matter where I was whether at church, school or other places where I would be in public.

My grandma on my Daddy's side suddenly passed away when I was quite young. I was at the ripe old age of 6-1/2. (Had to count that half year back then, if you remember). I know I didn't know what dying was so had to go through a brief schooling on the subject. I knew that flowers and dogs died, but people seemed to me to be pretty much in place for good. Bottom line was that I couldn't go to Grandma's funeral because I was too young, but was allowed to go to the visitation. Those were the days when many visitations were held in the family home. I remember Grandma laying in a big shiny box, looking like she was sleeping and she looked very pretty. There were flowers all over the place and lots of family, friends and neighbors were there. Before leaving our house I was told: “I want you to behave yourself...DON'T run around, touch the flowers, bother your cousins, or leave the house...” and on an on went the list. Occasionally, while there, I was reminded “Glendarae, behave” when I couldn't even figure out what I was doing that was wrong.

My Mother wasn't so interested in my “being” something as she was insisting on my “doing” things that met family criteria. That is nothing unusual for parents whether it was my parents or the parents of other children. However, the word “be” can be some distance from the word “do.” There are just some things we are without thinking. This is where character and integrity come into play.

There are many verses of Scripture, however, that address our BE-havior. In younger years, behavior is our practice for what and who we become. Then we will find ourselves doing what behavior has taught us. That can end up being for the good or even for the bad. There are some phrases that come to my mind from Scripture that admonish us in our “behaving” that may approach behavior from different angles. We'll let the Word of God speak for itself as it is so very capable of doing:

Be of good courage, and let us BEHAVE ourselves
valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our
God: and let the Lord do that which is good in
His sight.
I Chronicles 19:13
(This is such a good one for the days we are living in.)

I will BEHAVE myself wisely in a perfect way.
O when wilt thou come unto me?
Psalm 101:2

But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how
thou oughtest to BEHAVE thyself in the house of
God, which is the church of the living God, the
pillar and ground of the truth.
I Timothy 3:15
(Paul had his hands full teaching those folks how to behave in church.)

This last couple of verses are as convicting for me regarding behaving as any others. Please accept that I'm talking to myself more than anyone else:

The aged women likewise, that they be in BEHAVIOUR as
becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much
wine, teachers of good things;
That they may teach the young women to be sober,
to love their husbands, to love their children,
To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient
to their own husbands that the word of God be not
blasphemed.
Titus 2:3-5
(I have often reminded younger women that they are an older women to someone younger than themselves, someone who may be looking to them for life's lessons.)

It seems to me that we teach as much through our behavior, with others watching, as much as in what we say. We aren't children anymore, but perhaps there are times we need to say to ourselves, “Behave yourself.”

Above all, we should want God's approval as to if our behavior brings glory to Him. It can be hard during hard times, but the Holy Spirit has a very loving way of reminding us to behave ourselves.

Dear Father, please remind me through Your Word and Spirit to behave myself when I get off track. No more than I wanted to embarrass my Mother, I definitely don't ever want to shame You through any negative behavior. Thank You for loving me despite those times I disappoint You. I love you! In Jesus' precious name....Amen