Toward All

"Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and the renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior." Titus 3:1-6

The first sentence is our directive as followers of the Most High. Submissive, obedient, ready for every good work, no fighting, be gentle, and show perfect courtesy toward all people. This is the example we are supposed to be setting.

Then next sentence describes what we once were and still are. How so many people lives still are. Foolish, disobedient, walking down the wrong paths because our passions and pleasures told us to go that way, and angry all the time, truly hating everything.

The last sentence describes how we are saved. By our Savior, Who gave up all to save us. Not because we accomplished anything special, but because of His great mercy for us.

Remember that we were once foolish, but He saved us, so now we will gently remind others of His way, and sometimes others will remind us when we stumble like fools. We need to remember to show mercy to other fools because we are not so different from them. God shows us mercy on a daily basis. Mercy and patience toward all. That's what we need.

This should be on a stone tablet that we read daily.