The Golden Rule

"WHAT!!!" , X yelled at me.

It is probably not the first time that things like this happen. I could have said something really nasty in response, but I am glad I did not do so. Self control needs to be exercised. Be Slow to anger, quick to listen. *Takes a deep breathe*

What I was reminded of was how often I tend to be X and speak to my mother in a rather impolite way. I can now understand the hurt I inflicted on her when I spoke things like that.
(I am really sorry, Mummy. )

Then there is this thing about the golden rule, mentioned in Matthew 7:12.
"Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."

Versions of this existed before Christ came but they were written in negative light. Jesus, on the other hand, made it a positive command, enriching its meaning and underscoring that this one imperative aptly summarizes the whole gist of the ethical principles contained in the Law and the Prophets. God does not want us to just stop doing evil, but to do good. When we trust in Christ alone, we should stop doing evil and do good.

Are we willing to put in the effort and go the extra mile for others?

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
(Mattew 25:31-46)

God, teach us how to love each other.