July 31st 2016
So In Everything, Do To Others What You Would Have Them Do To You! (Matthew 7:12a)
The Golden Rule of God.
Luke 6:31-32 (NIV)
Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them.
The Golden Rule of mankind = “Whom ever has the gold makes the rules!” In this dog-eat-dog world it becomes difficult to maintain love for all people, because there seems to be an increase in hatred. Too many people are looking for the bad eggs, and then intentionally grouping others in with those who have committed terrible acts. Of course, racial disharmony is the easiest to detect, so it draws the most attention, however, it is not the only type of discord amongst the general public. Religious overzealous commitment has usually been the biggest problem facing mankind, and has been for all of recorded history.
Some of the most warring groups actually hold to some of the same basic teachings found in the Old Testament Scriptures. We read about how God made promises to His people and guided them to a new land where they could flourish, but by the time they arrived, they did not trust God to deliver on His promise. God had guided the Israelites through torturous events, and they had witnessed how God destroyed their oppressors, yet when they arrived at their destination, they did not trust God’s promises. Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. (Numbers 14:30). They voted 10 to 2 not to enter the Promised Land! Many people ask the question, “Can the majority “ever” be wrong?” Here is a case where the voting majority was wrong! No, do not worry, I’m not going to launch into anything about the upcoming election stuff, it is too radical for this commentary!
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:16). Not many people really accept this idea of God being love, as John wrote for us. It seems many people today have a picture of the Old Testament God as being very harsh, and seeming to require His followers to fear Him instead of holding Him in awe, and thus having a healthy fear of Him, because of His immeasurable power. John also wrote about Jesus being brought into this world to liberate us from our sinful nature, and that Jesus would be our ambassador to His Father in heaven. My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2)
John wrote that Jesus is “the atoning sacrifice for our sins,” and that this sacrifice of Jesus was made “not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” All that is required is for anyone to accept this sacrifice Jesus made for all of mankind! God loved us so much that He sent His Only Son to die for all of mankind, while we were still sinners. Jesus wants us to pass this love on to all other members of mankind, also known as our neighbors. All of mankind is of one blood! Paul wrote about this kind of all-encompassing love to those early churches. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Galatians 5:14, NLT). Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6:10)
Please remember that Jesus is God too, and He was always there, even in the Old Testament times, therefore, do not separate the Old Testament God from the New Testament God, as they are one in the same! All people are God’s people, as He (Jesus) created us all, so then we get back to the Golden Rule of God. 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). Jesus’ coming into this world assured all of mankind the opportunity for salvation and eternal life. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17:3). Please believe it, the God of the Bible is “only true God,” and that God the Father sent His Son into this world to offer salvation to all, as John wrote, “Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” Jesus is God’s plan for salvation, there is no other plan!
Many people have been fooled by the idea that somehow the universe created itself, and therefore, they do not give credit or honor to God/Jesus for this wonderful world we find ourselves living in! Paul wrote to the church is Rome about the true account of creation, so they would thank God for everything. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. (Romans 1:20-21). Do you thank God for His wonderful creation, which is made for all of mankind to live in and enjoy?
Nothing can come from nothing—everything has a cause. Everything we can observe—up and out to the seemingly infinite reaches of our universe or down and into the miniscule pieces of the world of the nature of matter—is exceedingly complex and fascinatingly related to everything else. Rather than looking for a “god particle” that is the source of everything, why not trust what the Creator has said: “In the beginning was the Word. . . . All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:1, 3, AV). The above paragraph was taken From: Days of Praise July 25: (Available from ICR, a free daily devotional)
In this lifetime we are all tempted by the worldly ideas that are not usually based on the love of God, but instead corrupted by the ideas of mankind, who all possess a sinful nature, and an immortal soul, destined to end up in hell. Jesus died as the perfect sacrifice to offer salvation and eternal life to all of mankind, all that is required is that you believe this promise to be true, and your soul will be saved! After you accept this offer, you will still be tempted, but the Holy Spirt will offer you guidance, if you will accept it. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. (1 Corinthians 10:13, NLT). Look for a way out, and do not commit that seemingly pleasure filled act, which Satan will offer! Do not partake of any forbidden fruit!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
The Golden Rule of God.
Luke 6:31-32 (NIV)
Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them.
The Golden Rule of mankind = “Whom ever has the gold makes the rules!” In this dog-eat-dog world it becomes difficult to maintain love for all people, because there seems to be an increase in hatred. Too many people are looking for the bad eggs, and then intentionally grouping others in with those who have committed terrible acts. Of course, racial disharmony is the easiest to detect, so it draws the most attention, however, it is not the only type of discord amongst the general public. Religious overzealous commitment has usually been the biggest problem facing mankind, and has been for all of recorded history.
Some of the most warring groups actually hold to some of the same basic teachings found in the Old Testament Scriptures. We read about how God made promises to His people and guided them to a new land where they could flourish, but by the time they arrived, they did not trust God to deliver on His promise. God had guided the Israelites through torturous events, and they had witnessed how God destroyed their oppressors, yet when they arrived at their destination, they did not trust God’s promises. Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. (Numbers 14:30). They voted 10 to 2 not to enter the Promised Land! Many people ask the question, “Can the majority “ever” be wrong?” Here is a case where the voting majority was wrong! No, do not worry, I’m not going to launch into anything about the upcoming election stuff, it is too radical for this commentary!
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:16). Not many people really accept this idea of God being love, as John wrote for us. It seems many people today have a picture of the Old Testament God as being very harsh, and seeming to require His followers to fear Him instead of holding Him in awe, and thus having a healthy fear of Him, because of His immeasurable power. John also wrote about Jesus being brought into this world to liberate us from our sinful nature, and that Jesus would be our ambassador to His Father in heaven. My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2)
John wrote that Jesus is “the atoning sacrifice for our sins,” and that this sacrifice of Jesus was made “not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” All that is required is for anyone to accept this sacrifice Jesus made for all of mankind! God loved us so much that He sent His Only Son to die for all of mankind, while we were still sinners. Jesus wants us to pass this love on to all other members of mankind, also known as our neighbors. All of mankind is of one blood! Paul wrote about this kind of all-encompassing love to those early churches. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Galatians 5:14, NLT). Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6:10)
Please remember that Jesus is God too, and He was always there, even in the Old Testament times, therefore, do not separate the Old Testament God from the New Testament God, as they are one in the same! All people are God’s people, as He (Jesus) created us all, so then we get back to the Golden Rule of God. 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). Jesus’ coming into this world assured all of mankind the opportunity for salvation and eternal life. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17:3). Please believe it, the God of the Bible is “only true God,” and that God the Father sent His Son into this world to offer salvation to all, as John wrote, “Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” Jesus is God’s plan for salvation, there is no other plan!
Many people have been fooled by the idea that somehow the universe created itself, and therefore, they do not give credit or honor to God/Jesus for this wonderful world we find ourselves living in! Paul wrote to the church is Rome about the true account of creation, so they would thank God for everything. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. (Romans 1:20-21). Do you thank God for His wonderful creation, which is made for all of mankind to live in and enjoy?
Nothing can come from nothing—everything has a cause. Everything we can observe—up and out to the seemingly infinite reaches of our universe or down and into the miniscule pieces of the world of the nature of matter—is exceedingly complex and fascinatingly related to everything else. Rather than looking for a “god particle” that is the source of everything, why not trust what the Creator has said: “In the beginning was the Word. . . . All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:1, 3, AV). The above paragraph was taken From: Days of Praise July 25: (Available from ICR, a free daily devotional)
In this lifetime we are all tempted by the worldly ideas that are not usually based on the love of God, but instead corrupted by the ideas of mankind, who all possess a sinful nature, and an immortal soul, destined to end up in hell. Jesus died as the perfect sacrifice to offer salvation and eternal life to all of mankind, all that is required is that you believe this promise to be true, and your soul will be saved! After you accept this offer, you will still be tempted, but the Holy Spirt will offer you guidance, if you will accept it. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. (1 Corinthians 10:13, NLT). Look for a way out, and do not commit that seemingly pleasure filled act, which Satan will offer! Do not partake of any forbidden fruit!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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