What Jesus Did! - The Golden Life

"Do to other people the same things you want them to do to you. This is the meaning of the law {of Moses} and the {teaching of the} prophets.
- Matthew 7:12 (ERV)

THOUGHT: The Golden Rule! That's what it's called, but Jesus isn't as concerned that we know the "rule" as much as he is that we live the "golden life." In many ways, this concept of doing for others what we would want done for us summarizes Jesus' teaching to his disciples about how to live for others. It also captures the spirit of the Old Testament Law and the teaching of the prophets. In other words, living to bless others is God's will for us in all of our relationships. We are not here to live for ourselves, but to bless others in the name of Jesus. This kind of life is transformational. God can use it in ways we would never anticipate to touch the lives of others.

PRAYER: Almighty and enabling God, help me focus less on my needs and my desires. Instead, dear Father, please help me hear the heart cry of those around me and then use me to serve them in your name and do for them what I would want done for me. Through the precious name of the Lord Jesus I pray. Amen.

Related Scriptures:

The Pharisee said, "Teacher, which command in the law is the most important?" Jesus answered, "'You must love the Lord your God. You must love him with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and most important command. And the second command is like the first: 'You must love other people the same as you love yourself.' - Matthew 22:36-39

Be willing to serve each other. Do this because you respect Christ. - Ephesians 5:21

Forget about the wrong things people do {to you}. Don't try to get even. Love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord! - Leviticus 19:18

What Jesus Did! - Benevolent Compassion

If a person asks you for something, then give it to him. Don't refuse to give to a person that wants to borrow from you. - Matthew 5:42 (ERV)

THOUGHT:

In the last several statements, Jesus challenges us to a way of life that does not reflect conventional thinking. These radical challenges should not be read legalistically. At the same time, we must hear Jesus' imploring us to live by a Kingdom Family ethic toward others so that we can be powerful witnesses in a world so self-absorbed. While letting someone take financial advantage of us is not Jesus' intention (there certainly are other passages in the New Testament that help us understand this), he definitely wants us to be incredibly generous with others. We must refuse to put our personal possessions above the needs of others. God's Kingdom, and our citizenship in it, should be the primary force determining what we do to help, how we help, and how much we give up to help. But clearly, our lifestyle should be one of blessing and helping and giving, not judging and criticizing and hoarding.

PRAYER:

Sacrificial Father, you gave so much for me so that I could be your child. Please help me see people through your eyes, with your truth and compassion. I want to be a source of blessing in what I say and do. Grow my generosity so others may see your grace in me and give you the glory. In the name of your most precious Gift I pray. Amen.

Related Scriptures:
This is how we know what real love is: Jesus gave his life for us. So we should give our lives for our brothers and sisters {in Christ}. Suppose a believer is rich enough to have all the things he needs. He sees his brother {in Christ} who is poor and does not have the things he needs.

What if the believer who has things does not help the poor brother? Then the believer who has the things he needs does not have God's love in his heart. My children, our love should not be only words and talk. No! Our love must be true love. We should show our love by the things we do. - 1 John 3:16-18
- Jas. 2:15-17