Manners

Good day to each of you reading this column and thank you for taking the time to read these thoughts.

Manners, according to dictionary.com are the ways of behaving with reference to polite standards, social comportment. Manner, according to dictionary.com, is a person’s outward bearing; way of speaking to and treating others.

Please turn with me to Matthew 7:12 (FF) – “Whatever therefore you wish men to do to you, do the same yourselves to them; for this is the law and to the prophets”. As a double witness, turn to Luke 6:31 (NIV) – “Do to others as you would have them do to you”.

Manners go hand in hand with the “Golden Rule” of the Bible for we are mirrors for both the polite and impolite, elderly and children, in-laws and out-laws, friends and strangers, and natives and foreigners.

Manners begin with reverence to God in all things – As we begin praying to God, let us come before him humbly and to give our thanks to him for all that he has done. Prayer to God does not stop when we go to bed at night, for we should pray in the morning, pray at lunch, pray at the evening dinner, in times of blessings, in times of trouble, and times that you have something specifically on your mind.

As he says, “Do to others as you would have them do to you and this includes God – this is a two way street between you and God. Folks, we must start somewhere, so why not start your day with a humbling prayer to God.

Manners go hand in hand with reverence, so here are a few questions for you:

What would be your manner, if you told Jesus that you would not fall away? Would you be like Peter and fall away? Please turn to Matthew 26:32-35 & 74, 75 for the answer.

Would you be least or first when serving others? Luke 9: 46- 48 for the answer.

Would you entertain angels or strangers? Turn to Hebrew 1:14 and Hebrews 13:2

Do your children obey you as a parent and do you exasperate your children? Turn to Ephesians 6: 1-4 and Colossians 3:20 for the answer.

Do you respect your elders and assist the widows? Turn to 1 Timothy 5: 1-5 for the answer.

Do you wish to do good to all? Turn to Galatians 6: 7-10 for the answer.

Do you have the mannerisms of an overseer? Turn to Titus 1: 7-10 for the answer.

Are your mannerisms to repay evil with evil or insult with insult or with a blessing? Turn to 1 Peter 3:10-12 for the answer.

In conclusion, is your attitude and mannerisms the same as that of Christ Jesus?

Turn with me to Philippians 2:6-11 (NIV) – “Who, being in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every other name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

God said it, I believe it and that settles it!

May God Bless you and May Bless God for He is All in ALL.