Matthew 7:12 is a simple verse that most of us have been taught as a child. It is so simple, in fact, that at times I fear we don’t pause to give in any more thought beyond what we did when we initially heard it. Today, I challenge you to really think on this verse and determine how it can be applied in your life. In Matthew chapter 7, verse 12 Jesus says:
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
I don’t know about you, but often times how I treat people isn’t necessarily how I’d like to be treated. It is often how I think they deserve to be treated, or I treat them based on how I’m feeling at the time. But most of the time, I don’t even give much thought to how I’d want to be treated if I were them. Jesus tells us to do to others what we would have them do to us. So, if someone has wronged you, take this scripture to heart. How would you like to be treated if you were them? If someone makes a mistake, or has no friends, or needs a hand, or needs some encouragement, or is struggling in anyway, how would you like to be treated if you were them? Often times our pride, selfishness, or apathy gets in the way of seeing how we’d want to be treated if we were in the place of someone. But Jesus tells us, in EVERYTHING, do to others what you would have them do to you. I encourage you to take these words to heart by looking for ways to treat others the way you’d want to be treated if you were them.
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Jesus says, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” It is difficult to intuitively look beyond ourselves to see how we would want to be treated if we were in someone else’s place, so I encourage you to actively pursue this goal. That means that we will have to consciously make an effort to consider how we would want to be treated if we were someone else. Another place in the Bible Jesus says that all of the laws and commandments are summed up in just two: Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, mind, soul and strength, and the other is to treat others as you yourself would like to be treated. So, what do you say we get to it? It may take an active effort on our part to even consider how we would like to be treated if we were in someone else’s place. But, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I believe that it will become second nature over time.
