Monday, April 17, 2017

The Bottom Line

 

[Photo of a Scripture verse]


“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

The world is watching everyone who claims to belong to Jesus. They watch to see how we behave.

Do we show kindness? Are we loving in the way we speak and act? Do we keep our promises? Do we reach out to help others? Do we put aside pet sins, while still showing respect to those who may have a different view of such things? The list of the items to which the world holds us to account goes on and on and on.

Many times, we tend to forget that we are being watched. It is much easier to just go about living our lives without the burden of having to live like the One we follow. After all, He was tempted in every way like we are, but He didn’t sin (Hebrews 4:15). He was God, for goodness sake. Of course He wouldn’t sin. But, we—well we are still stained by sin, so it shouldn’t surprise the world that we slip from time to time.

And yet, the words of Jesus keep calling us to a radically different lifestyle. We are truly people who should manifest the characteristics of our Lord and Savior. Please note what Jesus told His followers in Matthew 7:12:

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

As we go out into this day, we can consciously and purposefully determine to treat others in the very same way we would want them to treat us. We can manifest the characteristics of the One to whom we belong. If we do, we will surely please this One who died that we might have everlasting life.

 

Copyright © 2017 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.