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!