TODAY’S VERSE: ROMANS 13:9 The commandments, "Do not commit adultery", "Do not murder," "Do not steal", "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
REVELATION:
Is everything you do is what you would like to be done to you? Is everything you wish for others is what you would wish for yourself? At times it seems hard and discouraging to live up to God's commands, but today's verse puts all commands in a nice "to go" package for us. It says all other commandments are summed up into loving your neighbor as yourself. One Sunday morning I found myself standing at Wal-Mart's check out line, examining myself about this very issue.
In 2006 Our Church did Rick Warren's 40 Days of Community. We broke up into small groups, in which we reached out to the community and got practical with God's love. Some groups went and clean local parks; some groups visited the homeless shelters and served food, and few other projects. Even the kids participated in the 40 Days of Community. My daughter's Sunday school class collected diapers for the less fortune families.
So, that Sunday morning, I went to Wal-Mart to buy diapers for that particular reason. As soon as I got into the diapers section the first thing that came to mind was, "What is the cheapest brand they have here." I searched for the cheapest and I grabbed it and off I went. As I was walking toward the check out line, something didn't feel right, so I wondered, "Did I get the right size?", after few seconds of unpacking the guilt package, I realized, I would never buy that particular brand , if I was buying it for my son.
So, I made a u-turn back to the diapers section and searched again for the best, most expensive brand. The difference between the two brands was $4.00, but I came to realize the money wasn't even the issue. It was the selfish nature in me that was the issue. So as I stood there at the check out line, I wondered how many other things I do to others that I wouldn't like to be done to me. It was like peeling an onion, I couldn't believe the list that was starting to build up, but I was saved by the bell, it was my turn at the cashier line.
I realized that the world would be a better place if each and every one of us treats each other the way we would like to be treated. If you don't like to be screamed at, then don't scream at anybody. If you don't like prideful people then you don't be prideful etc so do things the way you would like them to be done unto you. In other words, love you neighbor as yourself.
Dear Reader, how are you doing in this department of loving others? Do you treat others as you would like them to treat you? Do you do good deeds without selfish reasons? My prayers are that you will examine yourself and correct the areas that you think you need to improve in this issue. It is not our first nature to think about others before ourselves, but with Jesus everything is possible. If you have never invite Jesus into your life, I encourage you to do it today, so that He can lead you into this process. All you have to do is confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, and you will find yourself loving your neighbors as yourself!
PRAYER:
Lord, my God, my Loving Heavenly Father, help me to love those who are around me. Help me to treat them with same respect that I would like to be treated. In Jesus' Loving name, I pray. Amen
APPLICATION:
Examine your speech, mind, motives and actions that you have toward others. Make a list of things that you wouldn't like to be done to you and make sure you are not doing them to others.
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