Shoe On the Other Foot

 Jesus has done so many great things like curing folks and raising others from the dead.  He taught His disciples and the crowds.  The people flocked around Him to see all those wondrous things He did and no doubt went home and told their families and friends about it all, perhaps even embellishing it, if that were possible.  

But what about the words He said and said to DO?  Do we DO them?  That is the question.

Those words, 

"So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is law and the Prophets" (ESV).

Do you see that ...

"What you wish others would do to you, do ... them"

This is star action.

Philosphers of the past have said thing like, 

"don't do to others what you don't want them to do to you".

This is the negative passive perspective seems to imply then just don't do anything.  Live and let live.  You don't harm then, but likely you didn't help them either.

One preacher I heard lately, noted that Jesus took a vastly different approach, the one of DOING - doing something good that will help others, for their benefit.

Things get done then.  People get helped.  It appears many churches in Canada are helping the vast influx of immigrants and refugees in one way or another.  This is doing the 'do' - that which you'd want to be done for yourself if the shoe was on the other foot.

This is not selfish behavior because you are not keeping things for yourself but are helping others, not expecting return.

Lord, help us to do as Jesus did and do what we'd want others to do for us.  Amen.

                                                  ~  ERC  July 2024  ~

Based on Matthew 4:23-25, 7:12 ESV.

Sing,  The Prayer - along with Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion.