Jesus gave us some great gems of teaching in His Sermon on the Mount. One of these well known nuggets is what we know as the Golden Rule. It goes like this:
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (Matt. 7:12)
This Golden Rule reminds us to give out grace to others. I want to pass on to you a prayer that I received from my friend, Cheryl. It talks about this great application of the Golden Rule.
“Heavenly Father, help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and was rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.
Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can’t make change correctly is a worried 19 year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.
Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really out to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.
Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they will go shopping together.
Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts to just to those who are close to us but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judgment and quick to forgiveness and patience and empathy and love.
Help us to live by the Golden Rule and to love with all our hearts (as You have loved us). Amen.”
As the Lord has shown us grace and mercy, let us pass it on to others! Let’s be a funnel of His love to the world. It’s what Whole Life Worship is all about!
What are your thoughts and applications of the Golden Rule?
WholeLifeWorship 
Dear Lord,
Help me to realize that the guy who is driving so maddeningly slowly in front of me (in the fast lane) and causing me to arrive at my destination two minutes later than I had hoped, may have lost a loved one to a tragic traffic accident, which has caused him to be overly cautious.
And that I should savor those extra two minutes anyway and think about how much time you have been willing to “waste” on me!
Thanks, Larry! I will store that away for when that happens to me on the road. Perspective is everything.
Sent from my iPhone