Scripture: Luke 6:27 “But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
Observation: Having taught his disciples about relating to God, Jesus now teaches how they are to relate with other people.Verse 31 gives us what’s become known as the “Golden Rule”, which is “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
Application: There are many times when I’m not sure what to do in a given situation. This is true in my personal life, in my family life, in my professional life. So any tool that helps make complicated things more simple is a gift indeed. The Golden Rule is one of these gifts. Imagine what our world would be like if more people lived by this rule. It would make a huge difference.
Prayer: Lord, I’m pretty good at making simple things complicated. I can think myself into a pretzel considering this option and that option. I know I’m not alone. Give us grace to make things simple when possible. Help us to, in fact, do to others what we would have them to to us. Ours would be a better world if more of us did so. Amen.
