Matthew 7:12
“Do for others what you want them to do for you. This is the teaching of the laws of Moses in a nutshell."
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
Social media is blowing up
today with posts about 9/11/2001. Almost everyone has a “9/11 story”…if
only to say, “I remember where I was when it happened.” And we do
remember all of the horrific, devastating, life-altering events of that
day - and the days/weeks that followed. May God grant His peace and
comfort to all who were directly or indirectly affected by that
tragedy…and in one way or another, this includes all of us.
Having
said this, I wonder just how much we do remember about 9/11…because in
that moment, many of us came together in extraordinary ways. We dropped
the judgments and the pretenses, and we became friends helping friends,
neighbors supporting neighbors…Christian brothers and sisters loving
others. And I have to ask…what has happened to us in the last fourteen
years?
The backbiting and judgment, hatred and fear seem to be at
all-time highs. Because of our access to “instant media,” we not only
know more about this…we are able to perpetuate it. “Did you hear what
XYZ said or ABC did?” we ask almost giddily. We cannot wait to revel in
the latest come-uppance of someone who played “high and mighty” in some
way - and we are more than a little eager to knock him/her down a peg.
We set ourselves apart from the masses and pretend that we have no
problems – or shortcomings and downright failures…that we are just a
smidge better than the next guy.
Or…we look at others, throw up
our hands, and say, “Not my problem!” The current refugee crisis in
Syria…and the hungry and homeless (both the 2-legged and four-legged
varities) in our own community immediately come to mind. What happened
to the spirit of camaraderie that followed 9/11? What happened to
working together rather than picking each other apart? How have we lost
our way so badly?
In her book, For the Love*,
author Jen Hatmaker says, “We are not good gods over one another; we are
better humans beside each other.” Matthew 7:12 is known by many as
“The Golden Rule”…and indeed, its words encompass a hallmark by which we
are all called to live. It’s time we got started…and I can’t think of a
better day than this one.
©2015 Debbie Robus
*For The Love
- ©2015 Thomas Nelson Books for HarperCollins Christian Publishing,
Inc.
Showing posts with label golden rule. Show all posts
Showing posts with label golden rule. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for January 19, 2015
Matthew 7:12
“Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God’s Law and Prophets and this is what you get.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Today, we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a well-known and respected civil rights activist, pastor, and humanitarian who led the fight for justice and fair treatment of all people – but especially African-Americans – in the 1960s. In many cities across the country, there will be parades, speeches, rallies, and other gatherings to remember Dr. King and his efforts…where we’ve been…and how far we still have to go.
This morning, I watched an interview with Eric Braeden - a soap opera star from CBS’s The Young and the Restless, of all things – who was the keynote speaker at a Martin Luther King, Jr. celebratory breakfast in Little Rock, Arkansas. Braeden, who is white, explained that he emigrated to the United States from Germany in 1959, with empty pockets and a heart filled with hope. He remembers firsthand the famous “I Have a Dream” speech delivered by Dr. King at the Lincoln Memorial. He recalls all of the challenges and struggles that were meted toward him as a post-WWII German trying to “make it” in America. And he noted that his discriminations and difficulties paled in comparison to those of African-Americans.
When asked how he would address the group on this day, Braeden said that he would…“reflect on the process of blacks, whites, Christians, Jews, Protestants, Catholics, and Muslims all getting along with each other. We are all one, you know…all children of God. And as such, we should behave kindly toward each other.”
The interviewer asked Braeden why he accepted the invitation to make this speech, and he explained that it appealed to him as someone who had seen discrimination firsthand – and also growth and improvement in the area of human relations. But he pointed out that there is still much work to be done. And indeed, this is the case. God is calling us to “grab the initiative”…to be the first in line to “behave kindly toward each other”…to obey God’s law and treat ALL others as we wish to be treated.
Dr. King was shot and killed on March 29, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. While speaking at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, on February 4th of that year, he was asked how he would like to be remembered. In part, King answered…” I'd like somebody to mention that day that Martin Luther King Jr. tried to give his life serving others. I'd like for somebody to say that day that Martin Luther King Jr. tried to love somebody.”
A component of many celebrations of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., will be some form of service activity to honor his legacy – and God’s call on our lives as Christians. I cannot think of a better day for all of us to begin to serve others and “love somebody” in Jesus’ name…can you?
©2015 Debbie Robus
“Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God’s Law and Prophets and this is what you get.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Today, we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a well-known and respected civil rights activist, pastor, and humanitarian who led the fight for justice and fair treatment of all people – but especially African-Americans – in the 1960s. In many cities across the country, there will be parades, speeches, rallies, and other gatherings to remember Dr. King and his efforts…where we’ve been…and how far we still have to go.
This morning, I watched an interview with Eric Braeden - a soap opera star from CBS’s The Young and the Restless, of all things – who was the keynote speaker at a Martin Luther King, Jr. celebratory breakfast in Little Rock, Arkansas. Braeden, who is white, explained that he emigrated to the United States from Germany in 1959, with empty pockets and a heart filled with hope. He remembers firsthand the famous “I Have a Dream” speech delivered by Dr. King at the Lincoln Memorial. He recalls all of the challenges and struggles that were meted toward him as a post-WWII German trying to “make it” in America. And he noted that his discriminations and difficulties paled in comparison to those of African-Americans.
When asked how he would address the group on this day, Braeden said that he would…“reflect on the process of blacks, whites, Christians, Jews, Protestants, Catholics, and Muslims all getting along with each other. We are all one, you know…all children of God. And as such, we should behave kindly toward each other.”
The interviewer asked Braeden why he accepted the invitation to make this speech, and he explained that it appealed to him as someone who had seen discrimination firsthand – and also growth and improvement in the area of human relations. But he pointed out that there is still much work to be done. And indeed, this is the case. God is calling us to “grab the initiative”…to be the first in line to “behave kindly toward each other”…to obey God’s law and treat ALL others as we wish to be treated.
Dr. King was shot and killed on March 29, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. While speaking at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, on February 4th of that year, he was asked how he would like to be remembered. In part, King answered…” I'd like somebody to mention that day that Martin Luther King Jr. tried to give his life serving others. I'd like for somebody to say that day that Martin Luther King Jr. tried to love somebody.”
A component of many celebrations of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., will be some form of service activity to honor his legacy – and God’s call on our lives as Christians. I cannot think of a better day for all of us to begin to serve others and “love somebody” in Jesus’ name…can you?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 23, 2014
Matthew 7:12
“Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God’s Law and Prophets and this is what you get.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In her book The Glass Castle, author Jeanette Walls provides us with a vivid picture of her childhood. Walls’ mother and father were somewhat the “poster children” for dysfunctional parenting. If you read this book, you will wonder how Walls and her siblings ever wanted to have anything to do with their parents. And yet, they cared for their father as he lay dying when the rigors of alcoholism ravaged his body – and ultimately took his life. Walls opens her book with a description of pulling up alongside her mother, who was dumpster diving on the streets of New York City, and inviting her into the car for a conversation.
Many people would have looked the other way and pretended that this was not their mother…or they would have rushed her into the car and ridiculed her for embarrassing them in such a manner. But Walls did neither. She does not speak of a faith in Christ in her books, but surely she has developed an understanding of the basic tenet of what we know as “The Golden Rule” somewhere…somehow. She is able to put aside her own humiliation…what would be understandable resentment for the way she, her brother and sister were reared – neglected and mistreated, if not downright abused. Jeanette Walls is able to consider the person before her and ask a simple question, “How would I want to be treated?” And this is how she responds.
Surely you have had at least one instance in your life where someone has essentially – if not literally – slapped you in the face. You’ve been the brunt of an embarrassing or derogatory gesture…you’ve been called an ugly name, experienced a betrayal, or someone has treated you so unkindly that you felt like the breath was sucked from your lungs. Maybe you have been lonely, sick or injured…and no one bothered to even call to check on you – much less visit and offer to help. Maybe you have had to figure out how to manage what seemed like an impossible task all by yourself, while those around you acted like you were virtually invisible. Either they were too busy, too disinterested, or truly didn’t care enough to help you…but the result was pretty much the same. You were left feeling insignificant and unloved.
I could list other situations…but you get the picture. We’ve all “been there, done that” at one time or another. So we should all understand how terrible this feels. We should all be ready to take a look at “the other guy” and ask, “How would I feel in his/her shoes?” But time after time – for whatever reason – we seem to be too busy to exercise this “rule-of-thumb behavior” that sums up all of the laws and teachings of Jesus.
We can do better. We MUST do better! We should take a page from Jeanette Wall’s book (no pun intended!) and put aside our own feelings to consider the other person…to meet his/her needs as we feel led by the LORD… and to let HIM handle the rest. We must get to a point in our own Christian discipleship where we focus on treating others as we would like to be treated (and as God directs us)…and we allow God handle how others treat us! I get it…this is far easier said than done. But again, nothing about being a disciple of Christ is necessarily easy!
So how do we proceed? Leo Babauta, author of the blog “Zen Habits”, posted “18 Practical Tips for Living the Golden Rule”.* It’s worth a look, and I encourage you to click on the link and read through them. There is so much more that each of us can do to share love and compassion with others…and to honor the teachings of Jesus and His amazing gift of grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion in our own lives. This may not come easily at first, but practice truly does “make perfect”…and in time, we can become far more adept at exercising this tenet in our daily living.
Babauta encourages us to do this so that we will be happier and “a better person”…so that our community will be a better place. I believe we must do this “because Jesus said so!” He has demonstrated this principle for each and every one of us. If we want to truly be His disciples, we will “pay it forward” to others...and trust Him to give us the wisdom, strength and courage to accomplish these things for His glory. I know I’m in… what about you?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*http://zenhabits.net/18-practical-tips-for-living-the-golden-rule/
“Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God’s Law and Prophets and this is what you get.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In her book The Glass Castle, author Jeanette Walls provides us with a vivid picture of her childhood. Walls’ mother and father were somewhat the “poster children” for dysfunctional parenting. If you read this book, you will wonder how Walls and her siblings ever wanted to have anything to do with their parents. And yet, they cared for their father as he lay dying when the rigors of alcoholism ravaged his body – and ultimately took his life. Walls opens her book with a description of pulling up alongside her mother, who was dumpster diving on the streets of New York City, and inviting her into the car for a conversation.
Many people would have looked the other way and pretended that this was not their mother…or they would have rushed her into the car and ridiculed her for embarrassing them in such a manner. But Walls did neither. She does not speak of a faith in Christ in her books, but surely she has developed an understanding of the basic tenet of what we know as “The Golden Rule” somewhere…somehow. She is able to put aside her own humiliation…what would be understandable resentment for the way she, her brother and sister were reared – neglected and mistreated, if not downright abused. Jeanette Walls is able to consider the person before her and ask a simple question, “How would I want to be treated?” And this is how she responds.
Surely you have had at least one instance in your life where someone has essentially – if not literally – slapped you in the face. You’ve been the brunt of an embarrassing or derogatory gesture…you’ve been called an ugly name, experienced a betrayal, or someone has treated you so unkindly that you felt like the breath was sucked from your lungs. Maybe you have been lonely, sick or injured…and no one bothered to even call to check on you – much less visit and offer to help. Maybe you have had to figure out how to manage what seemed like an impossible task all by yourself, while those around you acted like you were virtually invisible. Either they were too busy, too disinterested, or truly didn’t care enough to help you…but the result was pretty much the same. You were left feeling insignificant and unloved.
I could list other situations…but you get the picture. We’ve all “been there, done that” at one time or another. So we should all understand how terrible this feels. We should all be ready to take a look at “the other guy” and ask, “How would I feel in his/her shoes?” But time after time – for whatever reason – we seem to be too busy to exercise this “rule-of-thumb behavior” that sums up all of the laws and teachings of Jesus.
We can do better. We MUST do better! We should take a page from Jeanette Wall’s book (no pun intended!) and put aside our own feelings to consider the other person…to meet his/her needs as we feel led by the LORD… and to let HIM handle the rest. We must get to a point in our own Christian discipleship where we focus on treating others as we would like to be treated (and as God directs us)…and we allow God handle how others treat us! I get it…this is far easier said than done. But again, nothing about being a disciple of Christ is necessarily easy!
So how do we proceed? Leo Babauta, author of the blog “Zen Habits”, posted “18 Practical Tips for Living the Golden Rule”.* It’s worth a look, and I encourage you to click on the link and read through them. There is so much more that each of us can do to share love and compassion with others…and to honor the teachings of Jesus and His amazing gift of grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion in our own lives. This may not come easily at first, but practice truly does “make perfect”…and in time, we can become far more adept at exercising this tenet in our daily living.
Babauta encourages us to do this so that we will be happier and “a better person”…so that our community will be a better place. I believe we must do this “because Jesus said so!” He has demonstrated this principle for each and every one of us. If we want to truly be His disciples, we will “pay it forward” to others...and trust Him to give us the wisdom, strength and courage to accomplish these things for His glory. I know I’m in… what about you?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*http://zenhabits.net/18-practical-tips-for-living-the-golden-rule/
Daily Devotional for October 30, 2012
Due to family illness, there were no Daily Devotionals for October 28/29. We should be back on track now. Thank you for your patience!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Matthew 7:12
Treat others as you want them to treat you. This is what the Law and the Prophets are all about.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
There is an old adage that says… “People don’t care what you know until they know that you care.” And that is exactly what this scripture passage (sometimes called “The Golden Rule”) is saying. If you want people to be kind to you, make the first move and be kind to them. If you expect people to respond promptly, show up on time, answer phone calls and e-mail messages, and be responsible, give them an example to follow!
I can’t promise that others will respond in kind… but this is not the point. When you make a habit of treating others as you wish to be treated, you will know that you have honored God’s law and modeled Christian behavior for others. When you show others you care, don’t anticipate the same attention in return. Be content to know that you did YOUR part.
We have heard this scripture quoted all of our lives. And treating others as we wish to be treated should be the cardinal guideline for Christians. But I think sometimes we feel like this is something of a “magic bullet”… that if we are nice and respectful to others… if we care enough and do enough… others will follow suit. Sadly, this is just not the case. But it shouldn’t matter. Do not follow “The Golden Rule” for what you can receive from others. Live by this scripture because this aligns you with Christ. This is what Jesus does for us every day. None of us gives Him as much as we get in return… but He keeps on loving us and showering us with grace, mercy, compassion and forgiveness.
Treat others as you wish to be treated… not so they will reciprocate, but because it is the right thing to do, according to God’s law. I’m willing to bet you will see at least a few positive results. But either way, you will know that you have honored your commitment to Jesus Christ. When pleasing Him is all that matters, you will have turned a major corner in your life as a Christian. Are you ready to take that step?
©2012 Debbie Robus
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Matthew 7:12
Treat others as you want them to treat you. This is what the Law and the Prophets are all about.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
There is an old adage that says… “People don’t care what you know until they know that you care.” And that is exactly what this scripture passage (sometimes called “The Golden Rule”) is saying. If you want people to be kind to you, make the first move and be kind to them. If you expect people to respond promptly, show up on time, answer phone calls and e-mail messages, and be responsible, give them an example to follow!
I can’t promise that others will respond in kind… but this is not the point. When you make a habit of treating others as you wish to be treated, you will know that you have honored God’s law and modeled Christian behavior for others. When you show others you care, don’t anticipate the same attention in return. Be content to know that you did YOUR part.
We have heard this scripture quoted all of our lives. And treating others as we wish to be treated should be the cardinal guideline for Christians. But I think sometimes we feel like this is something of a “magic bullet”… that if we are nice and respectful to others… if we care enough and do enough… others will follow suit. Sadly, this is just not the case. But it shouldn’t matter. Do not follow “The Golden Rule” for what you can receive from others. Live by this scripture because this aligns you with Christ. This is what Jesus does for us every day. None of us gives Him as much as we get in return… but He keeps on loving us and showering us with grace, mercy, compassion and forgiveness.
Treat others as you wish to be treated… not so they will reciprocate, but because it is the right thing to do, according to God’s law. I’m willing to bet you will see at least a few positive results. But either way, you will know that you have honored your commitment to Jesus Christ. When pleasing Him is all that matters, you will have turned a major corner in your life as a Christian. Are you ready to take that step?
©2012 Debbie Robus
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