BE GOLDEN

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

“Our job on earth isn't to criticize, reject, or judge. Our purpose is to offer a helping hand, compassion, and mercy. We are to do unto others as we hope they would do unto us.” ― Dana Arcuri

Oh…that “pesky” GOLDEN Rule…

Do unto others as you would have them do to you…

Not easy when they have been critical of you.

Not easy when they have rejected you.

Not easy when they have unfairly judged you.

But Jesus never said this or that would be easy.

It sure wasn’t for Him…

We despised him and rejected him—a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we didn’t care. Isaiah 53:3 (LB)

And yet when the rubber met the road in His greatest trial He asked GOD to FORGIVE us. (Luke 23:34)

So when we keep in mind that we didn't deserve a lick of compassion, mercy or a helping hand yet Jesus was still more than willing to offer each should motivate us to do the same don’t you think?

…encourage one another and build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV)

…forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:13 NIV)

I was sitting in a round table discussion with several of our men from the Refuge last night in Columbus.  We were talking about being FOLLOWERS of Christ and I was remarking how AMAZING it was that nine grown, very diverse, previously broken and battered men could live together in any semblance of harmony, let alone comfortably.

But they do.

They have been and continue to “do their best” to be like CHRIST every day; treating each other with compassion, accountability, forgiveness and love.  They “do unto” each other as they would hope the others would do for them.

It is such a breath of fresh air.  And it works!

In a society where it is so much more fashionable to tear down, to laugh or even delight in the misfortunes or missteps of others, to ridicule and bully, it is remarkable that these “societal roughnecks” are the ones edifying one another, loving one another, forgiving one another; that they are the ones who offer helping hands, compassion and mercy.  And as a result they are becoming the examples of Jesus to each other and to the community.

I believe we ALL need to heed that little encouragement from Arcuri today and the example of my guys.  Let’s put aside our judgments.  Let’s go against the norm and encourage each other rather than tear one another down.

Let’s be CHRIST-LIKE in our actions, reactions, and speech.

Offer a helping hand.

Exercise forgiveness.

Offer compassion.

Be golden. 

“If you contemplate the Golden Rule, it turns out to be an injunction to live by grace rather than by what you think other people deserve.” Chopra

I love you ALL!

FREEDOM CHURCH (CHAMPIONS NETWORK)