“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.

Matthew 7:12 NLT

Known by most people as the golden rule, these words were spoken by Jesus in his first sermon. These words are from the sermon known as the Sermon on the Mount. This was a teaching for his first disciples and contains a lot of content about how followers of Jesus Christ are to live and conduct themselves.

I don’t think I need to add a lot of commentary here. This teaching is simple and very easy to understand. Let me remind you of some practical applications.

We all have the potential to judge others for their behavior toward us. We may get offended. We may feel taken advantage of. Most of us don’t like the bad actions of others especially when they are against us or those we love. Recently I drove a U-Haul truck for 10 hours in one day. I was appalled at the shenanigans of intitled drivers that would ride the bumpers of cars already driving at least five mph over the legal speed limit so they could pass them and drive even faster. Of course there is not much you can do about it in a truck but I’ve had this experience a time or two while driving a car. What I want to do is let them pass me and then return the favor by riding their bumpers for a couple of miles. This is the opposite of Jesus’ teaching here. I will admit that. It is also how road rage starts. I don’t do this but I really want to some times.

The fact is we often loathe the behavior of others but give ourselves a free pass to mimic or mirror their actions. It is shocking to realize our potential to “return evil for evil,” as the Bible says. In Romans 12:17 we are read, “Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. ¹⁸ Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.”

This week work hard to make sure you are treating others like you want to be treated. This will most likely call for you to show mercy, kindness and love to people that probably don’t deserve it but that’s what Jesus does in us. He calls us to his standard of response. Even while dying on the cross, Jesus prayed forgiveness for his murderers. No doubt we will encounter mean, angry or frustrated people this week. If you are a Christian, be Jesus to them, even if they lash out, work hard to treat them not as they are treating you but as you would want to be treated.

- Wes Humble