A Loving Response-1/13/2012

"Treat others the same way you want them to treat you." Luke 6:31
"Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ." Gal 6:2

Beloved, I would like to personally thank you for your outpouring of love resulting from last Friday's devotional. Whether you offered good thoughts, prayers, or financial assistance to a Christian brother whose identity you did not at that time know, it was surely a Christian response. You are to be commended for your expression.

And to my revealed brother, thank you for your heart of selflessness. Even in the midst of your valley, your thoughts are of others. In the face of their outpouring, you exemplified Gal 6:5, "For each man shall bear his own burden."

God never meant for us to get through this life alone. To be certain, it is only He that has truthfully said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." That said, He has called us together into one body, in which we all contribute to and benefit from the gifts and efforts of others. We are a family and family takes care of family. Let us remember the latter of the two greatest commandments: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Matt 22:39

Rejoicing in the Lord,

Lee

The Golden Life 10/28/2011 (rp)

"Treat others the same way you want them to treat you." Luke 6:31

Whether you ever knew that the "Golden Rule" came from scripture or not, you will recognize this most basic tenant of both Christianity and humanity. It makes so much sense that it is difficult to fathom why we do not all ascribe to it.

We spend so much time being unhappy in our relationships. Usually this is because someone has done something to us or failed to do something for us. We start out being displeased, then upset, then disagreeable and then hostile. We begin to display un-Christ-like behavior and could potentially lose our faith altogether, not because of what Christ has or has not done, but because of man. Is our faith so weak? Are we so short sighted?

The real tragedy is that we often view ourselves as passive in these situations. We take the stance that these things just happen to us through no fault of our own. What we fail to do is to examine our role in relationships that are less than optimal and less than loving. We rarely ask ourselves the tough questions, "What could I have done to prevent this?" or "What can I do to fix it?"

Beloved if we spent more time being the friend that we desire, we might find that we would have the friends we desire.

• Do you want someone to celebrate your accomplishments with you? Celebrate with others.
• Do you want your birthday remembered? Acknowledge others'.
• Do you want to be forgiven when you offend? Be forgiving.
• Do you want help when it is needed? Lend a hand to someone else.
• Do you want visits or phone calls when you are down? Be there for your brothers and sisters.
• Do you want understanding? Provide it.
• Do you want to see God? Be His representative to those in your world.

It takes more effort to maintain grudges, to remember to be hard hearted and to remain angry than it does to cast those things off and decide to be happy. This is the way of God.

Loving Like Jesus,

Lee