Love Is the Golden Rule
I sat down briefly this morning, Father, and other, out of the norm, responsibilities called, so now is the time I have come to sit…and listen…and write. Though of course, I’ve had a couple of things rattling around in my brain.
Yesterday I caught the tail end of a pastor’s sermon on the radio. He was speaking on another topic (a good one mind you) but something he said resonated within my heart. Now I can’t quote it word for word but here’s the gist of it. The pastor was speaking about Jesus telling his disciples in Mark 6:31,
“Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.
They were exhausted, so they boarded a boat to get away for a little while. But the crowds saw where they were headed and met them when they came ashore. So what did Jesus do? Did he barrel ahead with His original plan? After all, they were worn out! No…Jesus’ heart cried out more than His body did. Mark 6:34 tells us that “he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd…”
Before all was said and done, he ended up feeding them all – over 5,000 of them (Mark 6:30-44)!
Lord, plain and simple…You loved them. And You want us to love each other, too. Not because it’s easy. Not just when it’s convenient. Not when it’s comfortable. Not just when we agree.
You said, “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.” John 15:12
You said, “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.” Matthew 7:12
We refer to that one as the Golden Rule.
Lord, with my whole heart I believe that You cause things to intersect in our lives. This had been rattling around in my brain since yesterday but You dropped a video in my lap today. It’s a song by Dottie Rambo, inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Its message is strong and so relevant for today. It may make you flinch a little bit but it is well worth watching it through.
Lord, may I live out “Love Is the Golden Rule” in all I am today and every day. Amen.
Aug 22nd, Tues, 6:00 pm
New Every Morning
Ah…a peaceful morning to begin a new week, Father. I am so grateful that each day is a new day. Regardless of what past days have held, it is now behind and today is a clean slate, a fresh vantage point. Thank You, Father, for the wonderful assurance found in Lamentations 3:22-23 (<<click the green).
22The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
23Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.
Lord, I know that You understand. You came to live amongst us. You experienced life from our perspective. Hebrews 4:15 tells us that You “faced all of the same testings [i.e. temptations] we do, yet [You] did not sin.”
We struggle to be faithful. We do so well for quite a while and then…we think poorly of someone at work…we lose patience with our spouse and say things that should not be said…we become angry with other drivers on the way to work. We listen to things we shouldn’t listen to, we watch things we shouldn’t watch, we read things we shouldn’t read…and I am not alone – we are all guilty
Last summer my family made a trip to Waco, Texas and visited Chip and Joanna Gains’ Magnolia Market. While there we purchased a steel wall sign that says, “Today is a good day for a good day.” Lord, today – and every day – is that day. I am eternally grateful that Your “faithful love…never ends” and that Your “mercies begin afresh each morning.” May I be the child You know that I can be. Amen.
Aug 21st, Mon, 6:28 am
Do as Dew Does
It is a heavy-eyed morning, Father, but I am truly grateful that you woke me so that I could have time with You before the day starts moving along. Speak to me this morning and may I have “ears to hear” (Matthew 11:15, Mark 4:9, Luke 8:8). Amen.
Lord, as I look out my window I can see that a heavy dew has settled all around – the grass, the windows of our vehicles and the soybeans growing across the road. Seeing it brought to mind a conversation with a cousin at last week’s family reunion where amongst other things he shared his knowledge of dew. I couldn’t remember all the particulars, so of course, I Googled it!
Throughout the day the heat of the sun causes moisture in the ground to evaporate, turning it into water vapor. As the sun sets the ground continues to radiate heat. As the temperature drops the air can no longer hold the moisture. Once the temperature reaches “dew point” the water vapor in the air it turns back into liquid water, condensing faster than it is evaporating and because of this dew forms on cooler surfaces. (Thanks Wonderopolis for the science lesson!)
In further reading, Lord, I read that in many dry and arid parts of the world, dew sustains life – for it is the only moisture plants receive through certain periods of time.
Lord, spiritually we are living in a great period of drought. Our world has gone mad! I’ve seen this passage from 2 Timothy, chapter 3 pop up several times over the last few days on Facebook,
1You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
Paul admonishes Timothy to “stay away from people like that” and understandably so – we must avoid becoming like them – but I also believe that Paul realized the importance of our influence upon them.
We are living in spiritual drought but, Lord, I would pray that You would help me to be the dew of the earth for those, whether they realize it or not, for those who thirst for You. Amen.
Aug 20th, Sun, 6:48 am
We Strive to Divide
With a meeting out of the area this morning, Father, I am just now sitting down to write. I am being distracted by many things. Help me to place my attention on You. Amen.
Revelation 5:6-10 (<<click the green)
Lord, You continue to show the Apostle John the sights of the throne room of heaven. There are many in attendance here and they are giving You the honor You rightly deserve. Verse 9 speaks to me.It speaks of Your worthiness to open the scroll, to break its seals. Yes, You are the Lion of Judah but You are also the Lamb of God. You willingly gave yourself to be slaughtered and “your blood has ransomed people for God” and here is what speaks volumes to me. “…your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
Um…anyone left out there? …Nope! The word used there is “every”. Not one person is excluded! Because of what You have done, Lord, we have “become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And [we] (every single one of us who follow You) will reign on the earth.”
At this point in time (as well as many others I am sure) we are an absolute mess! We look for ways to segregate ourselves. We strive to divide ourselves. Much of humanity’s sole endeavor is to make sure we are broken down into camps of every imaginable disunion.
And even that is not enough! If we each crawled into our own holes that would be bad enough but, no, we must make sure that we express our hatred for whatever other unit that is not like ours or at the very least hatred for those who don’t agree with our viewpoint! It…is…insanity!
We scream for tolerance! …but there is no tolerance… We scream for acceptance and love! …but there is no acceptance or love… We clamor for peace! …but there will be no peace…
We will only find love and peace when we give ourselves over to You, Lord. Then, and only then, will that be the fruit of our labors. Oh, Lord, help us! May Your followers do everything we can to be like…You. I may cost us everything…but it is the only answer. Oh, Lord, help us….
Aug 17th, Thurs, 5:26 pm
But for You
Throwback Thursday post from June 19, 2015.
Good morning, Father! I absolutely love the joy I feel in my heart when I’m up in the middle of the night and think about our time together. I am here to listen and learn and grow with You this morning!
Ephesians 2:1-10 (<<click the green)
But for You, I would not exist. Because You moved in the hearts of my parents and grandparents is why I exist.
But for You, I would not be..who I am…what I am…and where I am. It is scary to think about the kind of person I would be and what I would be up to without You in my life. You know my leanings toward sin, You know my weaknesses, You now my personality traits that could take me down very treacherous paths. But for You, I would be a different person. Thank You, Father! All I am I owe to You! Praise Your holy name!
Help me to faithfully follow the path You have set me on. I pray that You will draw me closer to Your heart each and every day! I love You – help me love You more and more!
April 22nd, Wed, 7:14 am