Do To Others

Matthew 7:12 is a simple verse that most of us have been taught as a child. It is so simple, in fact, that at times I fear we don’t pause to give in any more thought beyond what we did when we initially heard it. Today, I challenge you to really think on this verse and determine how it can be applied in your life. In Matthew chapter 7, verse 12 Jesus says:

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

I don’t know about you, but often times how I treat people isn’t necessarily how I’d like to be treated. It is often how I think they deserve to be treated, or I treat them based on how I’m feeling at the time. But most of the time, I don’t even give much thought to how I’d want to be treated if I were them. Jesus tells us to do to others what we would have them do to us. So, if someone has wronged you, take this scripture to heart. How would you like to be treated if you were them? If someone makes a mistake, or has no friends, or needs a hand, or needs some encouragement, or is struggling in anyway, how would you like to be treated if you were them? Often times our pride, selfishness, or apathy gets in the way of seeing how we’d want to be treated if we were in the place of someone. But Jesus tells us, in EVERYTHING, do to others what you would have them do to you. I encourage you to take these words to heart by looking for ways to treat others the way you’d want to be treated if you were them.

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Jesus says, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” It is difficult to intuitively look beyond ourselves to see how we would want to be treated if we were in someone else’s place, so I encourage you to actively pursue this goal. That means that we will have to consciously make an effort to consider how we would want to be treated if we were someone else. Another place in the Bible Jesus says that all of the laws and commandments are summed up in just two: Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, mind, soul and strength, and the other is to treat others as you yourself would like to be treated. So, what do you say we get to it? It may take an active effort on our part to even consider how we would like to be treated if we were in someone else’s place. But, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I believe that it will become second nature over time.

Highly Esteemed

I always perk up when I read something from scripture that gives me a glimpse into the spirit world. And if I happen to learn an important lesson along the way, well, that’s all the more intriguing. In Daniel 9:23 we find these words: 

“As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Therefore, consider the message and understand the vision:”

This verse comes after Daniel was earnestly praying for the Israelites. It says that while he was still in prayer, the angel Gabriel came to him in swift flight. Then Gabriel tells him that as soon as he began to pray an answer was given. So, God knew what he needed before he even asked. Then Gabriel tells him that he is highly esteemed – referring to how he is viewed in the heavenly realm. Wouldn’t it be incredibly humbling and exhilarating to hear that you are highly esteemed by God? Then Gabriel goes on to share with him the meaning of a vision Daniel had. I’m convinced that God shares stories about men like Daniel so that we can see what pleases him, and so that we can aspire to be like these people. The Bible says that Daniel was highly esteemed. I’m sure that every believer would want that to be said of them by God. To have a vision, to be visited by an angel, and to be told that he is highly esteemed wasn’t necessarily the best part of Daniel’s day. In the end, he had his prayers answered as well, as Gabriel explained his vision. I encourage you to read the book of Daniel to see how he lived. And in the process, you’ll learn why he was considered “highly esteemed” in the eyes of God. Then ultimately, you and I can begin to pattern our life after his example.

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There are dozens of men and women of the Bible whom God esteemed. David was a man after God’s heart. Moses and Noah were the most humble men of their time. Elisha was taken up to heaven without even tasting death. As believers, we can look at the lives of people like these to learn the secret of how they gained such high esteem in God’s sight. And when we find that out, we can incorporate those virtues, practices and behaviors in our own life.

Not of This World

When Jesus prayed for his disciples in John 17, he made a point of saying that they are “not of this world”. If we call ourselves Christians, we should also be of the mindset that we’re just visiting here on earth. This is not our permanent home. In John 17 verses 14 and 15, Jesus says:

“I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.”

If we are truly not of this world, we should probably act like it. If you’re visiting someplace, you won’t let yourself get too comfortable because you realize that at some point you will be returning home. In fact, Jesus tells us that when we are here on earth, we are in hostile territory. He tells us that the world hates us and he prays that God will protect us from the evil one. So, as a fellow brother in Christ, I encourage you to remember where you came from, or more accurately, where you’ll be returning to. We need to take on the likeness and characteristics of our Father so that when we return, he’ll have no trouble recognizing us and we’ll have no trouble settling into our real home with our eternal family.

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Jesus prayed for his disciples, saying that they are not of the world any more than he is of the world. And like the disciples, if we are not of this world, we should act like it. If we truly follow the ways of Jesus, we will not be accepted because as Jesus puts it, the world hates us. The world can be alluring to our flesh, or our sin-nature. Even still, we should always remember who we belong to; that this world is temporary, and that we will some day return home. That should give us a bit of added strength and incentive to act as foreigners on this earth. After all, if Jesus prays for us like he prayed for his disciples, we know that even though he is not praying for God to take us out of the world, he is praying that God protect us from the evil one.

Deceive The Minds

In this day in age it is easy to find churches who will compromise the truth of the Holy scripture and conform to whatever it is that people want to be true, whether it is or not. They may even go so far as to form their own set of rules for people to live by and only refer to biblical teachings when it agrees with their way of thinking. Not only does this lead young believers and seekers astray, but it can also put added obstacles in the way of those who desire to live a blameless life and cause division, instead of unity, within the church. The goal of every believer should be to cling to the truth of God’s word and not be deceived by smooth talk or flattery that ultimately alters the purity of the Holy scriptures. Paul warns the Romans of this in Romans chapter 16 verses 17 and 18 which says: 

“I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naïve people.”

The best way to avoid being deceived is to be educated on the truth. And the best way to do that is to learn for yourself what the Bible says. There are several absolutes and hard teachings in the Bible. What we read may not always be what we want to hear, but that doesn’t make it any less true. Compromising God’s word is sin. And God warns us that whether we sin in ignorance or on purpose, it doesn’t matter. Sin is still sin. So, I encourage you not to let your mind be deceived. The best way to avoid deception is to learn the truth. And the best way to do that, is to read the word of God for yourself.

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Do not be deceived by churches and preachers who do not hold to what the Bible says. God’s word has not changed since the days it was written. It is man who tries to change it by “making it relevant to our current culture”. God’s word is truth all by itself. And when altered by man it can, and will, deceive the minds of naïve people. So, learn the Bible for yourself, and test what you hear in church. Your pastor should support what the Bible says, not alter it.

Save From Death

Sometimes the most important things to do in life are actually the hardest things to do. James outlines one of those important, difficult things in chapter 5 of his book in verses 19 through 20 which says:

“My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his ways will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”

It can be really hard to extend a hand to one who has wandered from the truth. You may think that it will get slapped away, that you are risking a relationship, or that some form of conflict might occur for sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. But James tells us that “whoever turns a sinner from the error of his ways will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins”. So, when we put our relationship at risk in an effort to bring someone back to Christ, it is a selfless act, not a judgmental one. We have everything to lose, but they will have everything to gain. If you find yourself in that place, I encourage you to dare to put your relationship at risk for the sake of that wayward person. If done with love, you can’t go wrong. Even if it doesn’t seem like you’ve made an impact, the Holy Spirit may use your efforts as a seed that could grow to conviction, leading that person back to Christ. But in all cases, before you make your move, I would encourage you to make sure you earnestly pray for the Spirit to take control of the encounter.

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We are safest when we concentrate only on our walk with God, but even that can be difficult. Even so, consider how much more difficult it would be to turn a sinner from the error of his ways. It means that we might face rejection, conflict, or a host of other negative reactions. If you choose to put your relationship at risk in an effort to put this verse into practice, remember that it is only the Holy Spirit who can change a heart. Hopefully, that will take some of the pressure off of the result of your encounter. And as James says, your efforts can save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. So yes, it is difficult, but it will be well worth it in the end.