Day 13 - (Today’s Bible readings: Genesis 10, Psalm 12, Matthew 7:1-23)
“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)
This is another well-known teaching from Jesus’ sermon on the mount. After teaching us not to retaliate, not to judge and to love one another, he now explains how this works. He gives us the golden rule.
The world is good at perverting anything Jesus says. The self-centered version of the golden rule is do unto others before they do unto you. Talk about backwards!
Paul does a pretty good job of capturing the heart of Christ’s command to treat others the way you would like to be treated:
“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32)
Of course, Jesus Himself gave us the ultimate expression of the golden rule when He took our place on the cross:
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
And now we who have been the recipients of Christ’s sacrificial love get to share His love with others.
Love is patient and forbearing, Clothed in Christ’s humility,
Gentle, selfless, kind, and caring, Reaching out in charity.
(Lutheran Service Book, Concordia Publishing House, 2006, #706 stanza 2)
Lord Jesus, thank You for not treating me the way I deserve to be treated. Please help me to follow Your golden rule and thereby reach others for You. Amen.
“See” you in church tomorrow!
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings form the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings
Then scroll down to 2018 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless you meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
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