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Do to others as you would have them do to you. Luke 6:31
Does that phrase sound familiar? Many know it as the Golden Rule. The rule is included in Jesus’ sermons both in Matthew 7 (Sermon on the Mount) and Luke 6 (Sermon on the Plain).
The golden rule simply means to apply the logic of treating others the way we would like to be treated to every situation when we interact with other people. Do you want others to yell or swear at you? Steal from you or cheat on you? Lie or gossip about you? Of course not!
This phrase offers a framework for how to treat other people in the various situations we will encounter in life. The golden rule is actually a very valuable piece of moral and ethical wisdom that we can apply throughout our lives in every situation.
The golden rule captures many of the sensibilities of the moral guidelines we find in the OldTestament. It is a wonderful summary of the Ten Commandments, which are clear and specific examples of how to love God and other people.
When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, he replied, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:34-40) This second command shares the same spirit as the golden rule for us to live by.
We can use the golden rule to develop a moral code for our lives which will have a powerful impact our daily behaviors and interactions with friends, family, and acquaintances. But don’t forget, this includes our enemies! It is too easy to think it doesn’t apply to our enemies, but it does.
Stop and reflect on how others have made you feel. Think about the times when others have treated you well. Did someone show extra effort to help you in school, at Target, or even at the post office? Did someone hold the door open for you, or slam it in your face? When you made a simple mistake, did someone rub it in your face or quietly correct it and move on? That little extra effort can make a world of difference.
Pay attention to those around you, have some empathy for their perspectives and feelings. Seek out opportunities to step up and do something considerate for someone else in need. Ask yourself, how can I treat them compassionately in away they will appreciate?
Lastly, consider how you would like God to treat you? Hasn’t He returned graceand mercy for your sin? Yes, indeed he has and continues to. Let us be mercifulto one another as God has been merciful to us.
In the name ofChrist Jesus;
Pastor Dan
Announcements:
· Youth For Christ is looking for a few volunteers on Monday to help run a station with simple games for their Middle School Carnival, Monday from 11-3 pm. Contact David directly at (561) 460-4856.
· First Evangelical – your 2024 Giving Statements were mailed out last week if we have your address on file. Also, remember pick up your Giving Envelopes if you haven’t gotten yours yet! THANK YOU!
· Holy Cross Annual Congregational Meeting will be rescheduled at a later date.
· Lent is just around the corner! Come to our Ash Wednesday service at 7:00 on March 5th at 7:00 pm to receive the ashes. For Lenten services, starting on March 12th, we will have a soup supper at 6:00 followed by worship at 7:00 p.m. Our five-week lesson theme is “Exodus”, with a video introduction each week and lesson time based on the story of Moses leading God’s people out of slavery to the Promise Land.
