The same way

^{by: carole l. haines}

¹² “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12 NASB)

Let’s think about the ramifications of this verse for a moment.  In everything, absolutely everything, treat people the same way you want them to treat you. Pause and think on that a moment.  I did, and it blew me away to imagine how different the entire world would be, if we followed just this one call of Jesus.  If I would consider how every word would make me feel, before I said it to someone else.  Or that rude gesture on the road, I was contemplating using when they cut me off the other day.  How would it feel to receive that?

Have you ever been rude to a waiter/waitress as he/she served your dinner?  I heard a man declare once, “I’m not leaving that girl any tip, I had to wait too long for my food?”  I looked around at the completely packed Restaurant and thought, “So did everybody else, it’s not her fault, it’s just crowded.”  Imagine how that made that precious young waitress feel.

Do we really get what Jesus is saying here? This is found in His Sermon on the Mount.  That passage of Scripture is jammed with all kinds of practical jewels for living.  This is one I have heard often, but not practiced enough.  Imagine a world, our home, our churches, our neighborhoods, if we all started slowing down our thought processes, and really contemplating how it would feel to be on the receiving end of what we are about to say or do.  Oh, I want that, Lord Jesus, I need that.
Precious Father in Heaven, make me more like Jesus.  I watch Him in your Word with the Woman at the Well (John 4), or with the woman caught in adultery (John 8).  I watch Him with Nicodemus, curious about the things Jesus is saying.  I see how Jesus interacts with people, Father, and I want to be like that.  Make me like that, Lord God.
Jesus, make me more and more like you every day.
Holy Spirit, slow down my thoughts processes and help me to remember to think before I speak, or act with another person.  I need you so desperately for this change.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.