“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
--Matthew 7:12
I read a survey a few years back where people were asked to name their favorite saying of Jesus. One of the most popular answers was “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Now, that’s a pretty good paraphrasing of Jesus’ teaching here, commonly referred to as the ‘Golden Rule’.
Contrary to what many may believe, this saying didn’t originate with Jesus. In fact, cultures all over the ancient world had some kind of rule of reciprocity when it came to how others should be treated. These all said essentially the same thing: treat others like you want to be treated.
Now, the funny thing is that it so rarely happens. While so many cultures, religions, and peoples claim this as their guiding moral principal, you don’t have to read much history to know there’s a difference between what they practice and what they preach!
The problem is that, apart from Christ, the Golden Rule is a pipe dream. It’s impossible for a selfish person to treat others with respect because, well, they’re selfish! But when Christ gives us new life, we have the ability to put others first and truly fulfill the Golden Rule!
WHILE THE FLESH CAN ONLY BE SELFISH, A LIFE LIVED IN CHRIST CAN BE CHARACTERIZED BY PUTTING OTHERS FIRST. SO SHOW CHRIST TO THE WORLD BY FOLLOWING THE GOLDEN RULE!
Thursday, May 16, 2019
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:”
Deuteronomy 17:18–19
Long before Israel ever had a king, God gave Moses instructions for how the kings should live. There were things they were forbidden from doing, and things they were required to do. One of those requirements was for the king to write out a copy of the law, which he would keep and read day after day. That would have been a laborious and time-intensive process, requiring commitment and diligence. This devotion to Scripture was the key to obedience to God’s commands. They needed to be known and read repeatedly and emphasized so that they would be followed.
I remember the first Bible I was ever given. Inside the front cover were written these words: “Sin will keep you from this book, or this book will keep you from sin.” That was true thousands of years ago when Moses taught it. It was true when I was told it as a young boy. And it is true today. The Bible is the only source of power given to us through which we can triumph over temptation and sin.
John tells us, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4). Paul gives us the source of faith, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). We must be diligent in our relationship with the Bible if we want to be what God calls us to be.
Today's Growth Principle:
A close relationship with God’s Word is the best protection we have against temptation.
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