Recently I was laughing with one of the men who described a friend who was trying to build something without following the directions. We chuckled together as we thought of the old saying, “

When everything else fails, read the directions!” So, my friends, let’s think of the directions today in “Dr. Mike’s Daily Prescriptions.”

“In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works” (Titus 2:7).

Paul instructed Titus to mentor people of every age range. He shared how to disciple the older men (2:2), the older women (2:3), the young ladies (2:4-5) and the young men (2:6). He was to do this by being a pattern of good works. This pattern gives the idea of setting a consistently practiced example of good actions.

It reminds me of a person I will call Annamarie. She resisted the invitation of her new neighbors. In a gracious but persistent manner, her neighbors had not only welcomed her to their community, they had been inviting her to come to their church with them. Over and over again she said, “No!” But finally the day came when she said, “All right. I will come with you. Thank you for inviting me.” What made the difference? It was the way her new neighbors lived. They were consistently kind. They spoke lovingly to each other and to her. They were genuinely interested in her. Their “pattern of good works” not only caught her eye, it captured her heart!

I am really blessed and challenged by this: I must ask myself the question, “What kind of pattern am I setting?” May the Lord help us to be showing that pattern of good works today.