Daily Devotionals

Bride and Gloom Week 3: Thursday

"Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:14

When it comes to our relationships, there is a question we could ask ourselves that has the potential to have a significant impact: How do we want others to treat us? This question poses a challenge: Treat others how we want them to treat us. For example, when we are in the middle of conflict, what would happen if we treat the people we are angry with the way we want them to treat us when they are upset with us? Or, when we need help, what if we treat the people around us how we hope they will treat us when we need help? If we ask this question and follow suit by treating others the way we hope they will treat us, our relationships will be impacted for the better.

 Jesus talked about how to treat the people in our lives in Matthew 7. He gave this rule to live by: "Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets" (verse 12). This teaching is clear: we love people well by treating them the way we want to be treated. Instead of reacting out of fear, anger, frustration, or selfishness, love requires us to ask, "How do I want them to treat me?" This line of thinking makes all the difference. It changes how we treat our loved ones and impacts our relationships with them. It shifts our perspectives from thinking about ourselves to those around us. 

How do we have stronger relationships with our spouses, friends, and family members? We ask ourselves, "How do I want them to treat me?" and we treat them that same way. When we follow this instruction, we can navigate even through the most challenging conflicts well. Let this teaching from Jesus help guide you in all of your relationships. How do you hope they will treat you? Commit to showing love by treating them in the same way.

 Simply put, we must treat those around us well. That goes for your spouse, friends, boss, coworkers, etc. Your kindness always moves relationships in the right direction.

Moving toward action

As you interact with people today, ask and answer the question, "How do I hope they will treat me?" Then, follow suit by treating them how you hope they will treat you. Next, note how doing this exercise impacts your relationship for the better. Finally, commit to practicing this challenge today and every day.

Going Deeper

Matthew 7:1-28  (NLT)

"Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

3 "And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend, 'Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye.

6 "Don't waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don't throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.

7 "Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

9 "You parents-if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.

12 "Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.

13 "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

15 "Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.

21 "Not everyone who calls out to me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.' 23 But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God's laws.'

24 "Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn't obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash."

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,"