So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them. – Matthew 7:12
What would you like people to do for you—perhaps recognition for your hard work, gifts on special occasions, help when you need it, or companionship? It generally boils down to wanting to be respected, loved, and treated kindly. This is a good rule of thumb when dealing with people, even the ones you do not like.
Was Jesus always kind? He called some of the religious leaders of the day white-washed tombs full of dead people’s bones (Matthew 23:27). At one point, He told Peter, “Get behind me, Satan” (Matthew 16:23). He told the Jews who were seeking to kill Him that they were children of the devil (John 8:44). Love is not always nice, like when a surgeon takes a sharp knife to cut out cancer, but its root is kind. At times, the words of Christ were sharp, ready to cut out ungodly behavior. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
Practice kindness and love toward others and pray for God’s discernment and guidance to know when to use tough love. Someone who truly loves you is brave enough to tell you if there is something harmful you are holding onto in your life and to help you overcome it. Pray for wisdom for members of Congress and citizens of the United States to practice the golden rule, speaking truth into a situation even if it is not popular.
Today’s Verse: Matthew 7:12
So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: 1 John 4:7-11
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
