gtcotr/ss091717
Matthew 7 NKJV
12 “Therefore, whatever you
want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."
·
Notice
- Jesus did not say, “Don’t do to others what you don’t want them to do to
you.” Rather He said, “Do unto others whatever you want them to do towards
you.”
o Don’t just keep from
hurting, defrauding or maligning people … rather – help them; bless them;
encourage them; promote them!
o In fact – He put
this well-known Golden Rule in what I will suggest is a “Positive Reverse”.
§ Positive in the fact
that you should do to others what you would want done for you …
§ Reverse in that He
suggested you consider what you want others to do to or for you and then, like
sowing seeds for a harvest, go out and find someone you can serve, bless or
give to first before expecting anyone to do anything for you.
§ It’s an “Other’s first” verses a “Me first” way of life.
§ We are meant to reap
what we first sow instead of being willing to sow only after we have reaped.
·
If
a person reaps a bad crop they should not in turn use those bad seeds to sow
for their next harvest.
·
The
idea of sowing and reaping is that we have a chance to determine our harvest by
the type and amount of seeds we are willing to sow beforehand.
·
This is The Law and the Prophets = The
Logos and the Rhema
This
is not only the general written Word that we should observe in daily life but
also the living prophetic Word given directly to us in every critical situation
and circumstance we face. It agrees with the Word and the Spirit!
Matthew 22
37 Jesus said to him,
“ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your
soul, and with all your mind.’
38 “This is the first and great commandment.
39 “And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
40 “On these two commandments
hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
13 “Enter by the narrow gate;
for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to
destruction, and there are many who go in by it."
·
To
understand this scripture in context as a part of the sermon on the mount, we
must interpret it in light of the Golden Rule.
·
The
narrow gate is a gate of unselfish service to others while the broad gate
considers only what I think is best for me.
·
Why
do so many attempt to go through the broad gate of life? Because it is easier
to think about ourselves and our desires than to think about others and their
needs. The broad way is a selfish way.
14 “Because narrow is
the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few
who find it."
Philippians 2
3 Let nothing be
done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each
esteem others better than himself.
4 Let each of you look out
not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
The Bible is filled with scriptures
encouraging us to demonstrate our love and the love of God to a world filled
with people who are lost and hurting. It is God’s hope that we would be salt
and light, help and hope, love and leadership to those around us, every day and
in every way … especially during the difficult days we are facing right now.
Show them Jesus!
20 “Therefore by their fruits
you will know them."
In
conclusion:
1.
Love God more than you do yourself
2.
Love others as much as you do yourself
a. Sow a seed of prayer
b. Give a word of
encouragement
c. Lend a helping hand
in their situation
d. Send an offering
their way
Put
on the Lord Jesus Christ and be an example of God’s Golden Rule. The Fruits of
the Spirit are love; joy; peace; gentleness; goodness; faith; humility and
self-control. I pray we are all known by these fruits!
