OCT 20

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

Jesus had a way of summarizing things.  He knew how the Law had been developed into 613 rules and regulations, not to mention the prophecies and commands set forth by the prophets.  We have pages and pages of the Old Testament, 39 books total.  Here Jesus does another one of His ‘summaries.’  It helps simple, ordinary people like me to remember what’s important.

We call this the Golden Rule.  While many cultures have something similar, it is normally found in the restrictive form: “don’t do to others what you don’t want them doing to you.”  Jesus changes it into a positive, proactive, encouraging, sending forth type of command.  By doing so, we are an example to others.  The Golden Rule is another way the world will see us Christians as different.  May our lives reflect the teachings of Jesus as we exhibit love and truth, compassion & strength in our broken world.