The Golden Rule 

Over the last few weeks, in our series on Rhythms, we’ve been looking at the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus teaches his new disciples (followers) about the Kingdom of God- which is the His rule and Lordship over our lives.  

In today’s scripture, Matthew 7:12, Jesus gives us this instruction: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to YOU, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” 

In a parallel passage in Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus was asked this: 

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? “Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 

Loving God and loving those around us as we love ourselves are the two most important commandments God has given us, and every other command or instruction in the Bible is based on these two!  As Christ’s followers, loving others isn’t merely a suggestion or something we do when it’s convenient for us; in fact, it is more than a command; it is our foundation, our culture, and how we put our faith in action.  

Love is our foundation: Love is the heart behind everything we do. It should be the motive and reasoning behind every good deed. 1 Corinthians13:1-3, Paul tells us that any good work we do or any spiritual height we attain that isn’t rooted in love amounts to nothing.  

Love is our culture: Every country, kingdom or tribe has its culture, which is the behavior and custom most associated with those people. In the kingdom of God, our culture is love. It is how we relate with one another and how we are identified.  

 Jesus said in John 13:34-35: “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are My disciples if you love one another.” The world will know we are Christians by the way we love each other. 
 

Love is active: 1 John 3:18 “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” Jesus doesn’t call us to love merely; our actions show our love. The amplified Bible defines love for one another as an unselfish concern for others and doing things for their benefit. Jesus exemplified this when He took the punishment for our sins and died on the cross for us. He gave up his title and divinity so that we could be redeemed and have a relationship with God. His example should inspire us to love others in this same way. 

But loving others doesn’t always come easily, and God knows that. Here’s the Good News: we have the Holy Spirit, who gives us the ability to love. Romans 5:5 says, “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” 

Today, you can ask the Holy Spirit to fill your heart with God’s love and give you the power to love others truly.  

Questions: 

1. Does your Christian walk show that loving others is a priority to you? (Take some time to think about this.) 

2. Do you find it hard to love others around you? Ask the Holy Spirit to show why this might be and for his help in loving others as Christ loves you.  

3. What can you do this week to show love to those around you?