March Like Jesus
… Doing the Essence of the Law
Scripture Reading: Matthew 7:7-12
Key Verse: Matthew 7:12
“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.
The definition of the word “essence” is key to understanding what Jesus’s “marching orders” are for us. Essence is the “…indispensable quality of something” (Oxford Languages).
The essence of today’s Key Verse is so important in the Kingdom of God that we cannot be in harmony with Jesus unless we constantly treat others like we want them to treat us. This is known as the “Golden Rule”.
This leads us to the one question that we MUST ask ourselves every day and in all situations: what would I want this person to say or do for me?
Yet, I must admit, that question is seldom the first thought on my mind when interacting with someone.
This “Golden Rule” is so well known that even people who do not claim to be Christ-followers know what it is.
However, to know the rule and to follow the rule are two very different things! I am guessing that most Christ-followers find this rule a tough one to remember and obey.
One of the reasons Christ-followers do not follow the Golden Rule is that we tend to react too quickly. The Bible clearly tells us to be slow to speak and slow to anger (James 1:19). When someone is slow to react, they give the Holy Spirit time to remind them of the Golden Rule; time to calm their anger.
A prayer that all of us should pray each morning is: “Father, please help me to slow my response to those that might irritate me today”.
Think how peaceful our homes could be if everyone practiced the Golden Rule!
Think what a wonderful atmosphere we could create at our churches and in our communities, if we slowed our responses down toward each other and asked themselves the all-important question: “what would I want from a person in this situation”?
Christ-followers certainly want to be good witnesses for Christ at their workplace. Following the Golden Rule makes us great witnesses for the Kingdom of God.
Yes, treating others as we want them to treat is the very essence, the indispensable quality of God’s Kingdom! It is no wonder that Jesus included it in His “marching orders” for all who would follow Him!
What will it take for you to remember to practice the Golden Rule? Do you need to put it on a Post-it Note and place it in a place you will see every morning? Do you need to put it on your prayer list so that you pray it every day and the Holy Spirit reminds you of it?
Whatever it takes, let’s all make every effort to practice the Golden Rule, an indispensable quality of God’s Kingdom!
Father, please remind me to live out the Golden Rule. Grant me wisdom and strength to conquer my pride and anger in all situations. In Jesus’s Name, amen.