Titus 3

Titus 3:2 . . . behave gently towards everyone.

If you begin reading verse 1, you will see he had just told them to submit to the government and its officials – to obey them; to do any honorable work.
I wonder if the Cretan Government was any less hostile to People of The Way than today’s governments toward Christians? Would GOD have Paul tell us any differently? No. I am sure Father’s Word is the same for us as Titus and his fellow brethren.

Back to verse 2.
He goes on — slander no one. Avoid quarreling. Be friendly.

Wow!

Gentle.
I found a definition of gentle that I think fits here: Considerate or kindly in disposition.

Are Christians gentle toward the government and its officials?
Do Christians speak with godly consideration about the government? Please don’t misread me here.  I am not blind to the corruption, and the depravity of the powers that be here but I would like for us to recognize who our enemies are.  Ephesians 6

Considerately, what good have we done for our Father’s Kingdom if we are critical of people for the pleasure of criticizing? May I add, people that we have had no personal interaction with? Public people are people too. Again, I am not suggesting by any stretch of the imagination that we close our eyes to the sin that is paraded as good, but that we make sure it does not harden us – that we remain gentle, pliable in the HANDS of HOLY SPIRIT to the spiritual needs of government officials and all People.  Perhaps we can begin by praying for them more than we criticize them. And let’s put away words like idiot, stupid, imbecile, ding-bats, etc. Father uses words like poor, wretched, blind, miserable, and naked. See Revelation 3:16-18.

I don’t know that I can adequately write about this but it is firm and clear in my being. People are not our enemies. Our enemies live in the spiritual realm. As Christians, we are amid spiritual warfare. We must know our enemy and we must battle effectively.

Consider a good soldier, a Navy Seal. When they are on a mission they neither conduct themselves haphazardly nor nonchalantly. They are quiet, watchful, strategic, and ready at a moment’s notice to engage their opponent.

Spiritually speaking, should not we be the same? Should not we embrace that we too are on a mission? Should we be ever watchful, strategic, and ready at any moment to humble ourselves before GOD and resist the evil one and his army?

In summary, for too long I, and I think I am not alone, have lived years of this earthly journey like it is a Sunday afternoon stroll instead of a white-hot battle for the eternal souls of mankind.

I didn’t know this post was going to be so heavy – I’m not apologizing just acknowledging messages here are often tough.

What am I thankful for today?
That I am right here, right now.