Daily Devo

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In every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. (Titus 2:10)

Expanded Passage: Titus 2:9-10

Someone suggested we need a rescue home for fallen words. If so, one of those words is “winsome.” I don’t hear it used very much these days. The dictionary says it means to be “generally pleasing and engaging, often because of a childlike charm and innocence.”

In these days of polarizing opinions that often pit people against each other in angry debates, we could use some winsomeness. Especially is that true if we are “teaching about God our Savior.”

I have known people—perhaps you have too—whose doctrines and beliefs were without reproach. Yet they came across with severity. Their attitude reminds me of a parent who points a finger at a child and shakes it as if to say, “You’d better be good or else!”

Jesus commended children with their simple faith and said we should be more like them (Matt. 18:3). Not childish, but childlike.

I also love the idea of being “pleasing and engaging.” The old adage says you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. You get the point. It’s like the little girl who prayed, “Dear Lord, help all the bad people to be good. And help the good people to be nice.”

Paul says in essence, “When you teach, be nice. Make the teaching attractive.” Our goal is to win others with winsomeness, not alienate them.

Ask God to help you be winsome today.

Ron McClung is a retired minister in The Wesleyan Church who enjoys writing and loves interacting with his large family.

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

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In everything set them an example by doing what is good. (Titus 2:7)

Expanded Passage: Titus 2:6-8

When Dr. William J. Bennett was secretary of education under President Ronald Reagan, his wife, Elayne, encouraged him to visit schools and teach classes.

“While we were still courting,” Bennett explained, “she had seen me teach high school classes in Portland, Maine. When I became education secretary, she told me, ‘You’re a good teacher and people will take you more seriously if they see you doing what you’re talking about. In addition to talking about education, why don’t you go out and show people you can teach somebody something?’” Dr. Bennett resisted her suggestion, saying, “I don’t do retail now, I do wholesale.” She persisted, saying, “If you do some retail you’ll do better wholesale.”

In other words, it’s one thing to teach by talking. It’s another to teach by example.

The apostle Paul knew this, which is why he urged Titus to set an example for the young men. Good behavior is not only taught; it is “caught.” Paul hoped that Titus would spread the power of an example by making it contagious enough that the young men would become “infected” and impacted.

Whatever your age, you can set an example. Humanitarian and philosopher Albert Schweitzer believed in the power of example so much that he said, “Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.”

Don’t just talk the talk. Walk the walk and lead by example.

Ron McClung is a retired minister in The Wesleyan Church who enjoys writing and loves interacting with his large family.

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

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Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure. (Titus 2:4–5)

Expanded Passage: Titus 2:3-5

It isn’t just women who need to be self-controlled. In this second chapter of Titus, Paul urged his protégé to teach the men, both younger and older, likewise, to be self-controlled. It seems we never outgrow our need for this discipline.

Jack Paar, a talk show host and comedian, said, “Looking back, my life seems to be one long obstacle course, with me as the chief obstacle.”

Researchers have found that people with more self-control live longer, are happier, get better grades, are more physically active, have more stable emotions, get better jobs, have better marriages, and sleep better at night. They have also discovered that self-control is like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets.

Jim Whittaker, a mountain climber, said, “You never conquer a mountain. Mountains can’t be conquered; you conquer yourself—your hopes, your fears.”

Self-control is a gift of the Spirit (Gal. 5:23). Implementing it is the key. We use this gift to move our lives in a direction that pleases God, instead of simply drifting with the currents of culture and whim.

It’s no wonder Paul urged Timothy to teach this to every age and gender. It’s because temptation is always with us, luring us off the most desired path. Make it a priority to be self-controlled.

Ask God for extra grace to implement the gift of self-control.

Ron McClung is a retired minister in The Wesleyan Church who enjoys writing and loves interacting with his large family.

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

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You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. (Titus 2:1)

Expanded Passage: Titus 2:1-2

In some places, a new school year is underway or will soon begin.

In a Peanuts comic strip, it was the first day of school. The teacher had instructed the students to write an essay about coming back to school after having the summer off.

Lucy wrote, “Vacations are nice, but it’s good to get back to school. There is nothing more satisfying or challenging than education, and I look forward to a year of expanding knowledge.” The teacher commended Lucy for her fine essay, and in the final frame of the comic strip, Lucy leans over and whispers to Charlie Brown, “After a while, you learn what sells.”

I suppose we all face the temptation from time to time to “do what sells” or “teach what sells.” Some writers do it. Advertisers do it. Maybe even some preachers do it. And parents can certainly cave in to “what sells” rather than facing their children with some hard truth.

The reason Paul urged Timothy to “teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine” is that he wanted him to be committed to communicating the truth, even if it wasn’t popular. Paul constantly battled false teaching in the churches. His greatest weapon was the truth.

It’s still true today. Popular culture is often at odds with the Bible’s teaching. We must always strive to come down on the side of truth.

Be well-acquainted with God’s Word as your best source of truth.

Ron McClung is a retired minister in The Wesleyan Church who enjoys writing and loves interacting with his large family.

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

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Many are the foes who persecute me, but I have not turned from your statutes. (Ps. 119:157)

Expanded Passage: Psalm 119:153-160

Sometimes I reflect on the fact that we are all sinners saved by grace—and if that is true, then we are bound to struggle from time to time with the people we serve with. Burnout is a common struggle in ministry, particularly burnout resulting from the people we serve with. If you serve in ministry long enough, you will have moments when you have had to go to God and ask for strength, wisdom, and grace to be able to continue to serve with the people in your ministry. Service to others also keeps us reflecting on areas that we need to grow in, and ministry continues to show us our reliance on God.

Hopefully, we don’t view our fellow ministry members as “foes.” The one true foe working against us in ministry is Satan. When God is moving, the enemy comes to destroy all that we are doing for God. We have to be on guard to notice when our greatest foe tries to stand in our way. Trusting in God and his Word keeps us grounded when the enemy comes against us.

Satan will often use our relationships with others to tear a ministry apart because he can’t touch our relationship with God. Remembering to walk in love and to show grace to others will keep us in right relationship, sturdy against the enemy’s interference.

Stay grounded in God in the face of our enemy.

Stacy Haynes is a mental health therapist, author, podcast host, and children’s ministry pastor in the Wesleyan Church.

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

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The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. (Titus 1:5)

Expanded Passage: Titus 1:1-5, 10-16

Whenever there is change in leadership, there is often a change in process and procedures. Many people may love the new pastor or new ministry leader as a person, but struggle with the changes that come along with their new leadership. New leaders see a new vision, and new vision requires fundamental change. Structure for any organization comes from its leadership.

Paul urged Titus to look critically toward Crete, seeking what was dysfunctional there. His job was to appoint leaders to get things in order. Fundamental change to an organization, even the early church, requires proper organization from within. Our pastors are not the only leaders who provide structure. Anyone leading a ministry should be appointed and anointed to carry out the call of God for that ministry.

Sometimes in order to provide the right foundational structure, we have to remove current leaders and put new leaders in place. This can cause moments of hurt and confusion, but trusting that leaders have heard from God is key in any reorganization. When churches need order, God will send the right leaders at the right time to make sure the mission continues. Our response is to be open to fundamental changes and recognize that God’s people thrive in organization, not chaos. Just as Titus would finish what was started in Crete, so we will finish what God starts in our churches.

Thank God for anointed leaders who put the church in order.

Stacy Haynes is a mental health therapist, author, podcast host, and children’s ministry pastor in the Wesleyan Church.

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

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They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. (Titus 1:16)

Expanded Passage: Titus 1:16

There was a janitor from Vermont who lived a quiet and simple life. He wore the same coat all the time, drove a second-hand car, and lived below his means. It was a huge shock to everyone in the community when he passed away and his will directed millions of dollars to the local library and hospital. Many people were blessed by this gesture of true financial discipline and generosity.

The Bible says in Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” In today’s verse, Paul reminds Titus to look at people’s love for God by how they serve God, not just at their profession of faith. Our actions should show that our devotion is fixed on God. Christians living a life contrary to God’s Word are not able to bear fruit that reaches our world for Christ.

Many unbelievers are discouraged and turn away from Christ when they see Christians living the same way as them. Our calling requires that we live lives that strive for holiness and that we bear good fruit. Each day, we have the chance to show others our good works. Imagine the daily lives the janitor could have touched if he had revealed that his life was not just “simple”—he was storing up his treasure for eternity.

Live like the lost are watching—because they are.

Stacy Haynes is a mental health therapist, author, podcast host, and children’s ministry pastor in the Wesleyan Church.

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

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To the pure, all things are pure. (Titus 1:15)

Expanded Passage: Titus 1:15

I had a supervisor once who challenged everyone in the meeting to think of the colleagues they were struggling with and change how we thought of them, saying: “They are doing the best that they can.” It took a moment to gather what the intention of the exercise was and then the supervisor said, “Now what would you need to change about yourself to work well with that person?” Ouch. It was not about them changing; it was about us changing our perspective to see the good in others and adjusting our mindset to improve the working relationship.

How would your interactions with others in ministry change if you adopted the belief that they are doing the best they can? Do we look for the good in others even in difficult situations? Ministry requires us to see the good in others and believe that others are serving with a pure intent. This has changed not only how I view colleagues in the workplace, but it has radically changed how I view volunteers in ministry.

By keeping our thoughts wholesome and “pure,” as Paul advised, we can create wholesome relationships that we can rely on to serve well. “To the pure, all things are pure,” and when we seek the good in others, we see goodness everywhere. Seek this goodness in others—both strangers and coworkers.

Look for the good in others.

Stacy Haynes is a mental health therapist, author, podcast host, and children’s ministry pastor in the Wesleyan Church.

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

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Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith. (Titus 1:13)

Expanded Passage: Titus 1:10-14

I remember one afternoon reading the group chat and my heart sank. One of my volunteers in ministry had written an unkind message to another volunteer in the group chat for everyone to see. As the messages began to go back and forth between volunteers, I heard God tell me to correct them now, with love and kindness. I gently reminded my team that we serve together, that this conversation is not for the group, and that we should always aim to edify one another with our words. Individual messages were sent out to those involved, and a loving reminder to settle our differences with each other privately was received well by both parties.

In this passage, Paul was advising Titus about Christians who need to be corrected. Many of us struggle with the idea that correction is part of serving with others. People, including leaders, will make mistakes, and Paul wanted Titus to know that even those of the faith can be “full of meaningless talk and deception” (v. 10). Addressing this behavior in love and with grace is key to keeping people connected to church and to each other. This kind of leadership keeps us “sound in the faith.”

Our heavenly Father wants us to walk in love with one another and show grace to each other even in the hard moments of serving together.

Correct others in love with the aim of building connection.

Stacy Haynes is a mental health therapist, author, podcast host, and children’s ministry pastor in the Wesleyan Church.

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

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To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. (Titus 1:4)

Expanded Passage: Titus 1:4-5

At the beginning of any pre-mission trip meeting, our pastor will remind us that by the end of the week, we will all need to show grace to one another. At the beginning of a trip, everyone is excited about the mission and ready to serve each other and the community with love. But by day four or five, after the heat has set in, people are tired, and the “joy” starts to fade, grace has to step in. After about six mission trips, I have learned to add prayer for those of us serving together for the week: grace for each other and peace throughout the week.

Serving does not mean we will be free from conflict or strife with fellow Christians. The Bible teaches us to forgive one another, and this means those that we serve alongside with. I’ve heard the phrase “Sheep bite”; it means that even those we lead will sometimes cause hurt. Whether you are serving on the short-term mission field or in full-time local ministry, we are to remember to show loving kindness towards one another, learning to forgive each other with the grace that has been shown to us by our loving Father.

Paul was encouraging Titus in their shared faith, reminding him—and us—to rely on God for grace and peace as we serve and build his kingdom.

Serve with grace toward the people you serve with.

Stacy Haynes is a mental health therapist, author, podcast host, and children’s ministry pastor in the Wesleyan Church.

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.