Strength for the Journey – Day 28
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
Strength for the Journey
40 Scriptures to Shape Your Faith
Day 28 | Luke 6:31
Strength for the Journey
40 Scriptures to Shape Your Faith
Day 28 | Luke 6:31
Luke 6:31
"Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (NIV)
Another translation reads: "Treat people the SAME WAY you want them to treat you."
That statement from the Lord is deceptively simple, yet it can make a big difference. Most social systems teach what to avoid… "don't do to others what you don't want done to you." Jesus went further, commanding proactive love: initiate kindness toward others before receiving it yourself.
This rule FLIPS relationships upside down. Rather than REACTING to how others treat us, we SET the standard. Rather than WAITING for others to be friendly, we TAKE the LEAD.
Here's something worth noting: Jesus didn't present this as an IDEAL… He gave it as a COMMAND. And it begins with someone choosing to GO FIRST.
Here's a quick exercise you might find helpful. Before interacting with anyone today, pause and ask yourself: “How do I want to be treated today?" Listened to? Respected? Given the benefit of the doubt? Okay, now offer THAT to the other person first. The cashier. The coworker. The spouse. The teenagers who roll their eyes at you.
I find that making a short – hopefully friendly and appropriate – comment to people I pass often brings a smile and a positive response. Some days I nail it… other times, not so much. But I’ve found that most people WANT to be friendly, smile, and enjoy the moment. It’s so different from what most people experience throughout the day. This “Golden Rule” is the standard. When someone cuts me off in traffic, I think, "How would I want to be treated if I made a mistake?"
It's not EASY, but it's SIMPLE. It makes a positive difference.
Quote: "The Golden Rule is the distilled essence of all ethical teaching."
— John Stott
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me LIVE out the Golden Rule authentically. Make me someone who INITIATES kindness and friendliness. When others hesitate, nudge me to GO FIRST. Amen.
"Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (NIV)
Another translation reads: "Treat people the SAME WAY you want them to treat you."
That statement from the Lord is deceptively simple, yet it can make a big difference. Most social systems teach what to avoid… "don't do to others what you don't want done to you." Jesus went further, commanding proactive love: initiate kindness toward others before receiving it yourself.
This rule FLIPS relationships upside down. Rather than REACTING to how others treat us, we SET the standard. Rather than WAITING for others to be friendly, we TAKE the LEAD.
Here's something worth noting: Jesus didn't present this as an IDEAL… He gave it as a COMMAND. And it begins with someone choosing to GO FIRST.
Here's a quick exercise you might find helpful. Before interacting with anyone today, pause and ask yourself: “How do I want to be treated today?" Listened to? Respected? Given the benefit of the doubt? Okay, now offer THAT to the other person first. The cashier. The coworker. The spouse. The teenagers who roll their eyes at you.
I find that making a short – hopefully friendly and appropriate – comment to people I pass often brings a smile and a positive response. Some days I nail it… other times, not so much. But I’ve found that most people WANT to be friendly, smile, and enjoy the moment. It’s so different from what most people experience throughout the day. This “Golden Rule” is the standard. When someone cuts me off in traffic, I think, "How would I want to be treated if I made a mistake?"
It's not EASY, but it's SIMPLE. It makes a positive difference.
Quote: "The Golden Rule is the distilled essence of all ethical teaching."
— John Stott
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me LIVE out the Golden Rule authentically. Make me someone who INITIATES kindness and friendliness. When others hesitate, nudge me to GO FIRST. Amen.
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