9 ways in which we can make the Golden Rule visible in our lives - 2

We must behave in WORD and in DEED

I John 3:18 – My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

Matthew 5:16 – Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. 

I heard it said recently that when you let your light shine, you give others the encouragement and opportunity to let their lights shine!   How we project ourselves represents Christ.  We may not always want to behave in the correct way, hold our tongues, do good works, but we should always desire to represent Christ, to project Christ to others.
 
James 1:26 –If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.

Proverbs 16:24 – Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. 

How will our lives look if we are behaving in word and deed?  Are we performing good deeds towards others?  Perhaps random acts of kindness or just good manners?  What about our driving behavior?  Are we doing things that our family likes?  Are we picking up our husband’s socks and not fussing at him for it?

I was listening to a CD one day and the speaker was talking about having an at home business with children.  She talked about how she would be sugar sweet to the customer on the phone, but would snap at her children until one day her son asked her why she did that.  What a wakeup call!  Who we are, needs to be who we are in all areas of our life. 

My own family reminds me from time to time that I just don’t have to wait for company to make a pie – that they like my pie too! 

We are going to choose to do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do.  Not because it’s easy or more enjoyable, but because it’s right. 

When we behave in word and in deed, our speech will be in check – sometimes we speak and we shouldn’t, sometimes we don’t speak and we should!  Do good deeds, speak kindly – remember God is watching and so are others around us!

We sow our thoughts, and we reap our actions; we sow our actions, and we reap our habits; we sow our habits, and we reap our character; we sow our character, and we reap our destiny.
Remember to behave in our WORDS and our DEEDS.

9 ways in which we can make the Golden Rule visible in our lives.

I thought we'd cover one or two a day ... so look forward to the rest of them coming soon!

1. First and foremost, we must keep God’s commandments

Psalm 19:7-11
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.  More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.”

I John 5:3
"For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.  And His commandments are not burdensome."

Ecc. 12:13, 14
"Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.  For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil."
                                                   
Our hearts must be right, our lives must be right and we need to be following God’s words in all that we do.  If we do not keep the commandments, our lives and good works will be in vain.

With Golden Rule Living, keeping God’s commandments is at the center of our lives.  Yesterday my post covered J-O-Y ... Jesus first, Yourself last and Others in between.  I think that's a great way to look at it, but let's consider this on a deeper level.

I first read of this concept in Glenn & Cindy Colley's book "Your Mama Don't Dance" and it has stuck with me, and I love to share it with others!  Some people look at their lives as a pie – with God, family, work, friends, etc. each being a piece of the pie.  The more things we get into our lives, the smaller the pieces of pie are.   In actuality, that keeps God out of our family, God out of work, God out of our playtime.  When we think of our life as an old-fashioned wagon wheel, vs. a pie things get into better perspective.  If God is at the center – He is the hub of our wagon wheel and all parts of our lives are tied to that center.  No part moves without the center and there is no facet of my existence left unaffected by my faith.  God is in my decisions of how I behave at work, God is in my decisions on how I live my marriage, how I interact with my children, neighbors, friends, etc.  We will be interacting with everyone using the Golden Rule and with God in control!

We want to keep God first in our lives, and that starts with keeping His commandements.  If you're looking for a way to deeper study the Bible, you can join me and other ladies across the United States who are participating in a Digging Deeper Study featured in the blog - Bless Your Heart http://cindycolley.blogspot.com
In the post from Thursday, August 25th  you can read about digging for the meat. 

"JOY"

Sing along with me!

(Tune of Jingle Bells)
J-O-Y
J-O-Y
Tell me what it means?
Jesus first, yourself last and others in between!

Great little song with a catchy tune ... remembering to give others preference is a good thing, and teaching our children to do it at an early age is even better!  There are many little and big things we can do to let others know they are important in our lives.  From opening the door for someone, to letting them ahead of us in line.  Sending cards, emails or making the phone calls. 

What will our lives look like when we live a life following the golden rule?  How will it change us as we go about our day?  How will it look when we speak to our husband, to our children, to those we come in contact with each day?  Ask ourselves these questions:

• Do others feel better after they have been with us? 
• Do we make them feel good?
• Do we make them feel better about themselves?
• Do we make them feel more important? 

Aren’t those all ways in which we would like to be treated? 

We often gravitate towards people who build us up.  Remember that people often won’t remember exactly what you said or exactly what you did, but they will always remember how you made them feel.  If we change one life today for the better, we have changed the world because the influence we have had on that life influences the lives around her.  A person who is made to feel good is more willing to do something nice for someone else.

I love this quote!  We are not a storage system for God’s love, but an irrigation system – God’s love flows through us and we can pass it on to others!

Remember J-O-Y!

What is the golden rule, you may ask?  Look up Matthew 7:12.  I’m going to give you this verse in several different translations.  Just a side-note, I’m not advocating all of these translations, but wanted to read this in different ways. 

KJV Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them:

 

New King James Version Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them.

 

New International Version So in everything do to others what you would have them do to you,

 

American Standard Version All things therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye also unto them:

Amplified Bible - So then, whatever you desire that others would do to and for you, even so do also to and for them,

New American Standard "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you. 
 

English Standard Version So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them.

The Message Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God's Law and Prophets and this is what you get. 

Contemporary English Version Treat others, as you want them to treat you. This is what the Law and the Prophets are all about. 

I like the way the last one reads – treat others, as you want them to treat you.  This is the heart of the golden rule, isn’t it?
 

Let’s say that you apply the Golden Rule in all of your daily interactions with other people, and you help your neighbors, you treat your family with kindness, you go the extra mile for your co-workers, and fellow Christians, you help a stranger in need.  Now, those actions will without a doubt be good for the people you help and are kind to … but you’ll also notice a strange thing. People will treat you better too. Beyond that, though, you will find a growing fulfillment in yourself, a belief in yourself, knowledge that you are a good person and a trust in yourself.  Those are good things, building your self-confidence!  And then, you’re able to do more!

The golden rule shouldn’t just be a segment of our life … the golden rule IS our way of life!

Something New!

So, I've decided to jump into the world of blogging.  I love to write, I love to speak to women's groups and to teach ladies classes.  However, there doesn't seem to be that many opportunities to do this unless you're a published author, or married to a preacher.  Well, I'm the daughter of a preacher, and the sister to preachers, and the aunt to some preachers ... but nope, I'm married to an engineer. 

I felt that maybe, just maybe this blog would give me an opportunity to speak out on topics that are important to me, in regards to our daily Christian walk.  Living by the golden rule is important to me.  In fact, I did have an opportunity to speak to a group of ladies in Ohio on golden rule living.  Perhaps someday I'll copy that talk over onto my blog. 

Just in case you're not sure about the golden rule, what it is or where it's found.  Take a minute and read Matthew 7:12.  "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."  ESV

Well, if you're there and you've read this.  Thanks.  I hope you'll visit again and learn more about me and more about living by the golden rule.