George Washington’s father died before the future president was a teenager, and because many of the family responsibilities fell upon young George, there was little time or money for a formal education. Washington learned social graces from a guidebook entitled The Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation, and some of its maxims sound almost comical to the modern ear. “Put not another bit into your mouth till the former be swallowed. Let not your morsels be too big for the jowls,” says one directive. Another says “Bedew no man’s face with your spittle by approaching too near him when you speak.”

It yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Hebrews 12:11

Even without a father, Washington learned the importance of discipline – from his mother, from mentors and, yes, from books. And the greatest guidebook, the Bible, notes that Godly discipline “yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” Today’s society, from Hollywood to the District of Columbia, is characterized by a lack of restraint…and the fruit of permissiveness will be bitter.

As you pray for the restoration of American and her leaders today, ask God to make you a shining example of a spiritually disciplined and decent follower of Christ.

Recommended Reading: I Corinthians 9:19-27