Matthew 7:12 11.25.21
SCRIPTURE -Matthew 7:12
“Therefore, in Everything you do, be careful to treat others in the same way you’d want them to treat you, For that is the essence of ALL of the teachings of the Law and the Prophets.”
OBSERVATION
Jesus is concluding His Sermon on the Mount with a few Key Points. HE tells His followers to Ask (and Keep on asking), Seek (and Keep on seeking), Knock (and Keep on knocking)—-explaining that Everyone who earnestly AND persistently prays for what is needed to live the life Christ has called us to—-WILL receive it!
“Ask, and the Gift IS Yours. Seek, and you WILL discover. Knock, and the Door WILL be Opened For you.” (Matthew 7:7 TPT)
UNDERSTANDING
Therefore….is an Important word to pay attention to in the Bible. It is a “connecting” word.
In this case, Jesus is Connecting verse 12 with the preceding verse. Therefore, be careful to treat others in the same way you’d want to be treated yourself.
How often have you given thought to what Jesus called “The Second MOST important commandment? “Love your neighbor (others) as you love yourself.”
We know it so well. Even those who aren’t believers know this verse. Perhaps this is the basis for why non-believers view believers as hypocrites. Maybe they are not seeing this command observed.
So, if I am to Love others AS I love myself— what would loving myself actually look like?
In simple terms,
Loving myself would have to be MORE than NOT gossiping. My Love would need to SHUT it DOWN from others—Then, (because I Love myself) My Love would need to go further to speak out the positive and good I know to be true.
Loving myself is MORE than remaining neutral in any situation. My Love will need to STAND UP and BY others who need encouragement and kindness. My Love will need to fight to Bring UNITY to the Body of Christ.
The best way to TEST whether an action is beneficial to others-
is whether we would want to receive it ourselves.
Christ wants us to Understand that This Love is not something we are capable of on our own. We need Jesus. Therefore, we must keep asking, seeking, and knocking.
LIFE APPLICATION
Am I Treating others the way I want to be Treated?
Christ’s Love is reflected in us as His Children, when we are Treating Others as we ourselves would like to be Treated.
Heavenly Father,
I am asking, seeking, and knocking for YOU to pour YOUR Love into me. Your pure, generous, merciful Love. I am so Thankful this Thanksgiving for Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for Desert Streams and the Pastoral Staff…for Pastor Gary and Pastor Levi and for Pastor Warren and Justin and for Robin and so many who have taught me so much. Help me live my life loving others the way You call me to—with this simple test, “Is this how I-myself would want to be treated?”
In your Holy Name I pray. amen.
-Tina Kudelka