Read Titus 3:1-10 

Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. His wife and his mother were deaf and he was trying to find a way to communicate better with them. Chicken Soup for the Soul wrote that, when Bell invented the telephone, he called the President of the United States, Rutherford B. Hayes in 1879 to tell him. The President responded with, “Great invention, but who would ever want to use one?” Bell thought the invention of the telephone was an intrusion of his real work as a scientist and he was not ready to have a phone in his study.

In 2021 we are in the Digital Age as 95% of Americans own some type of cell phone and are ready to use it at practically all times. Most have a computer. Many people now have virtual lives as well as physical ones. Many are ready for the virtual life to project a “perfect” physical life. We are ready to have knowledge at our fingertips, thanks to smartphones, but many use it mostly for shopping and picking arguments with strangers.

“Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.” – Romans 12: 17-18

Are we ready to thoughtfully respond – not knee jerk react – to a disagreement, whether it is in person or on social media? How can we encourage others with our response? Can we demonstrate the way Jesus spoke and acted?

Some are ready for selfish ranting and venting on social media. Does this have worth?

We can respond with God’s weapons of patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control. Or do you react and rant?

In Titus 3 we are told essentially to be ready to respect the people we are talking to and consider their side of the story. Maybe we don’t know their side of the story but we think we do. Avoid slander and avoid a quarrel.

“Be gentle and show true humility to everyone.”

Self-control is key. Since God has given us a new birth and new life in the Holy Spirit, we can use the ideas in verses 4-7 to respond. We can disagree with others with kindness, love, mercy, grace and confidence – for those who have been born again through Jesus Christ. This is the right thing to do all the time.

If my neighbor is upset with me for whatever reason, I need self-control, kindness and patience in my relationship with them.

Do I respond with patience or do I just react?

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

John Wesley

President Rutherford B Hayes was a successful lawyer but he was not ready for the invention of the phone.

Are you ready to respond kindly to others?

What are some ways that you can show kindness to others? Is there a wrong that you need to make right?

Tom Weckesser