Scripture

Our verse for today comes from Luke 6:31, “And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.”

Background

Last night we played two softball games. The first game was played in the lingering heat and humidity of the day, when so many of us seemed to have heavy legs and be swinging wiffle bats. Consequently, we found ourselves in a hole on the scoreboard as the innings were running out. But as it turned out, we managed to put together a rally good enough to score five runs in the last inning and squeak out a win. After a break of an hour or so, it was again our turn to take the field for game two. We faced a different opponent and a little less heat and humidity, and this time there was a little more hop in our step. And as the game went on, we moved out to a decent lead with just a couple of innings left. However, as the Lord would have it, our opponent put together enough plays to score five runs of their own in the last inning, enabling them to come back and secure the victory. Turnabout is fair play, huh? What we had handed one team was given right back to us a couple of hours later. But I don’t think we had the golden rule in mind when we came from behind to disappoint the other team in our first game. We weren’t putting on display how we wanted other teams to treat us. We simply rallied in the first game and faltered in the second. The golden rule doesn’t work when it comes to final scores on the playing field.

Application

But it does work everywhere else. Unfortunately, too many of us have forgotten that. In cases that are dear to our hearts, our passion for what we want, for what we think is of ultimate importance, clouds our mind and stakes its claim, consequences be darned. In our warped way of thinking, we value our version of justice and rightness over God’s principle of humility and deference. We refuse to embrace the faith that is required to allow God’s grace to work out His plan. We might love the other person, but at these moments, we let that love worry about damage control, not tempering our thoughts and actions. But that’s what doesn’t work. Just as He wants us to do, so should we do likewise, where it all counts on His scoreboard.

Charge

As we seek Him today, let’s consider whether we are really treating people like we want to be treated. Are our thoughts and prayers and intentions towards them as we would desire from them? 

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words