Give Others The Good You Wish For Yourself

Few in this world understand this concept and even fewer live by it. Too many harm others as harm has come to them. Or they withhold good from others as it's been withheld from them. Sadly, we've often heard parents say to their children, "I can't help it! I yelled, hit, scared, etc. you because that's what was done to me!" or "Well, I did without love and affection from my parents and I turned out fine. So don't expect to get love and affection from me." But it should not be so with the Christian. A Christian is saved from merely reacting to our environment and empowered from on high to respond to all things with the love, grace and the righteousness of Christ.

Unlike the world, we're not enslaved or overpowered by our sinful flesh; rather, we've been emancipated by the blood of Christ with renewed minds and transformed hearts! This truth should drive us to live in the new life Christ has given, and make us eager to die to the old sinful selves we once were before we repented and trusted our lives to the one and only God—Jesus Christ the Lord.

Proverbs 3:27-28 says, "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, 'Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it;—when you have it with you." We must obey this Scripture and give as the LORD our God has given to us: freely and generously, without compulsion or malice. Remember, we are children of God, and He has given us all the glorious riches in Christ Jesus, so we have no excuse not to give good to others...regardless of what may have or have not been done to us (Eph 2:4-10).

As children of the Most High God, it is our great privilege to see all things as He sees them. It is our distinct honor to seek the good of others rather than seek good for ourselves. It is our immense blessing to give and love others as Christ has given and loved us. So we give as He gave and we give what and how He gave. We give truth. We give love as defined by God and not by the defiled definitions of man. Love is pure, holy and righteous; it is not lewd, immoral and self-satisfying.

Today, be determined to give what God gave you: grace and truth fully manifested in Jesus Christ. Give people the Gospel. Live it. Preach it. Defend it.

Don't look for others to treat you justly, but look only to honor God by treating others justly, no matter how well or ill they've treated you. Do not do to others as they have done to you (whether good or evil), but do to others as you would do to the Lord. After all, we are God's workmanship, created to do good works, which He prepared beforehand. And we are to continually bear good fruit in the name of our Lord Jesus, not for eye-service as to men for their approval, but with our whole hearts inclined towards God's pleasure alone.

"Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in Your ways."