🕊️PRAY HERE Devotion🕊️ “Mind Your Manners”

Scripture: “Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do every good work, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.” — Titus 3:1–2 (NIV)

Devotion: One thing that is at an all-time high these days is rudeness! Do you remember when people had more manners and were kinder? Back then, people would greet one another in passing, say “good morning,” and actually smile. If someone held the door, the other person would say “thank you.” People used to give up their seats for elders, let others go ahead in line, send handwritten thank-you notes, and show simple gestures of kindness.

There was a time when we were taught, “It’s not nice to talk about people.” But now, gossip is a full-blown industry, on blogs, social media, podcasts, and gossip sites. People slander others publicly, spreading lies and tearing down reputations for entertainment or attention.

And it’s not just gossip, people just seem angrier and more rude than ever. Fewer people are considerate or patient. You can hold the door for someone and they walk right past you without saying a word. Road rage is common, arguments happen over parking spots, and some people are so easily offended that they explode over the smallest things. We’re living in a time where kindness seems rare and tempers run high.

The Bible already warned us this would happen. “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy…” (2 Timothy 3:2). We are witnessing exactly that today.

But imagine what the world would look like if people were more considerate, more polite, patient, and peaceful. If we all chose peace over arguments, and kindness over pride.

Today’s scripture in Titus 3:1–2 gives us a simple but powerful instruction that’s really about good manners and godly behavior:

• Be respectful to those in authority,

• Be ready to do good,

• Don’t talk bad about others,

• Be peaceful, considerate, and gentle toward everyone.

You may be thinking, “You can’t be nice to everybody.” But that’s not what the Bible says, it says to be kind to everyone.You might be nice to someone and they respond rudely. Don’t let that change your character. Say a silent prayer for them and move on. Don’t “give them the same energy,” as the world says. We are not trying to blend in with the world, we’re called to be different, to be examples of love, manners, and kindness.

Paul was giving Titus guidance on how to lead the church and deal with people. One major takeaway from this scripture is to avoid foolish arguments. Think about how many fights, murders, and conflicts could be avoided if people just walked away instead of trying to prove a point.

Choosing peace doesn’t make you weak, it makes you wise. Mind your manners. Be the example. Even if the world around you grows colder, let your love and kindness stay warm.

You can’t control how others act, but you can control how you respond. And when you choose peace, God blesses your obedience and gives you favor.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding me through Your Word to be kind, gentle, and peaceable toward everyone. Help me to represent You well in my words and actions. Lord, when people are rude or unkind, help me to stay calm and respond with grace. Teach me to mind my manners, avoid arguments, and choose peace daily. May my behavior reflect Your love in a world that desperately needs it.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.