Friday November 11, 2022

Today is Friday, November 11 and we are studying the words of Jesus in Matthew chapter seven.

As I begin this time of prayer, I focus myself upon the God who loves me. My heavenly Father calls me close to His side for a quiet and intimate conversation.

Pause and Pray

Lord Jesus Christ, speak to me about the Kingdom of Heaven and teach me how to live a life of love. I sit at Your feet listening to the words from the Sermon on the Mount longing for Your voice to permeate my soul. Amen.

I come into God’s presence praising Him with the ancient words of Psalm 37.

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:3-4

Pause and Pray

The final set of relationships Jesus mentions this week is the most demanding and all-embracing. He describes the generous and self-sacrificial attitude of the disciple to everybody he or she encounters. Matthew 7:12 is one of the most familiar and unparalleled teachings in all the world throughout human history. In summation, Jesus teaches disciples how to be in relationship with the rest of humanity in one simple sentence that has come to be known as The Golden Rule.

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12

As a disciple of Jesus Christ I embrace a generous attitude of going out of my way every day to encourage, forgive, help and serve others. I do not do that to obey some rules. I do it because the love of Jesus burns in my heart. It is one thing to strive to not harm others, it is another thing to go out of my way to help others. This is the way of sacrificial love – the mark of the Christ follower. The Golden Rule is the summation of the entire biblical revelation – the Law and the Prophets are fulfilled in Christ. This is the message of God to the world.

Ask: In what upcoming situation could I apply the Golden Rule and treat others as I would hope to be treated? How can I think of others as I would hope to be thought of?

Pause and Pray

Holy and Blessed Lord Jesus, You have summed up all of scripture and presented it to me in one sentence – how I can approach everything every day. Teach me to put this Golden Rule into practice and reveal places in my life where it needs to be freshly applied. Thank you for being my loving Shepherd and guide. I read The Golden Rule again, listening for the message You have for me today.

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

What is God revealing to me as I reflect on The Golden Rule? How does God want me to apply this in my life? I memorize Matthew 7:12 and will repeat it often throughout the day, looking for opportunities and mindful of new ways to put it into action.

Pause and Pray

Blessed Lord, I invite you to be a part of the ins and outs of my upcoming day. Give me a fresh perspective and help me see others as You see them. Help me to increase in a generous spirit ready to love and serve the people around me, treating them with kindness, respect and understanding. Show me how to love like You love. Amen.

Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:31-36

I leave this time of prayer endeavoring to do to others as I hope they would do to me.

Amen