I thank You, My Compassionate King, for reminding me that I should do to others what I want them to do to me. Sometimes, when things are not going well for me … like when I’m tired or upset or I’m feeling under pressure from life’s demands … obeying Your commands seem like an impossible task. I know that You want me to treat others with respect, kindness and courtesy, but that’s hard to do when they’ve been unkind to me … they are not living a righteous life … or, they see things completely different from me. I know that You’ve told me that I would never be asked to do anything I could not do … and, even though I wrestle with doing what You ask, I think that You know I can do it. I understand that Your command asks me, in those moments when I hesitate, to look in the mirror and ask myself … how would I like to be treated? And, the answer I get will tell me exactly what to do.
I believe that in order to carry out the actions required by Your Scriptures, I must love my neighbor as much as I love myself and, if I do, I know I’ll be doing what is right. Love calls me to be selfless and think of others needs as much as my own. Over and over You encourage me to not weary from doing good because You know that in due time I will reap good for my life if I do not lose heart. My goal is to never do evil to anyone, no matter what they do … instead, pursue the things that benefit both me and them. When I struggle with dealing appropriately with others, I’ll remember what You said … “Be kind and affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another, not lacking in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation and continuing steadfast in prayer”. What awesome guidance Your words provide.
I know your wish is for me to do all the good I can … by any means I can … in every way I can … in every situation I can … to everyone I can … and, as long as I can. Abundant living requires that I must be abundant in giving to others. My faith never asks whether I should be doing good … it tells me that I should always be doing good. My life is fleeting … therefore, I should be diligent to do as much good as I can with the time I have. I know that I am never more like You than when I am giving. I’ve come to understand that if I want to be truly happy, I won’t find it in an endless search for self-gratification or things. I’ll find it in Your generosity and sharing it with others. Help me never forget that doing unto others is really doing unto You. And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!!
Matthew 7:12 Do unto others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.