We should take special note anytime Jesus uses the phrase “this sums things up.” It always helps to get a boil-down from Jesus. The Golden Rule, which we looked at last week (see that devo here), is one such boil-down and, and therefore, worthy of a spin-off devotional. As a new school year gets underway, students are in a better position than anyone to practice Golden Rule-grade interaction.
The What
The precept of treating others as you’d treat yourself is a theme that runs through the entire Bible and is obviously a theme that’s close to God’s heart. The passages below represent snapshots of this precept throughout Scripture. Open an e-doc, or pull out a blank sheet of paper and simply write down anything that gives you insight into Golden-rule living.
Leviticus 19:33-34 (God giving Israel instructions)
“When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”
Luke 6:31 (Words from Jesus; Luke’s version of the Golden Rule)
“Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
Matthew 22:37-40 (Jesus addressing the Pharisees)
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Note: another “boil-down”)
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (the apostle Paul writing to the church in Corinth)
The So What
Many virtuous traits and characteristics are represented in these passages, but one trait seems to stand out: empathy. Each instruction in these passages is designed to encourage various types of empathetic action, starting with Israel’s treatment of foreigners, reminding them they were foreigners once themselves.
When you think about it, the whole idea of Jesus coming to earth was a divine, giant step of empathy—God entering our world to experience pain and hurt right along with us. When we treat others as we want treated or pass along comfort to others that we’ve received from God, we are ministering out of divine empathy.
Putting into Practice
Your school year gives you many potential situations in which you can minister from divine empathy, situations that have a striking parallel to some of the passages above. Listed below are situations and circumstances you are likely to encounter. Circle any that you have experienced personally and be sure to write down other circumstances you’ve worked through that aren’t listed.
-being a new student
-being cut from a sports team
-not getting the part in a play or musical you wanted
-experiencing a broken relationship
-being hurt by a friend
-depression
-struggling with grades
If you have experienced any of these situations, you know what helped you through the experience. You are in a better position than anyone to practice the Golden Rule—to help others in these situations. Whether you’ve experienced these situations personally, you certainly can come alongside others in these circumstances and treat them as you’d want to be treated if it were you in the situation.
Make this school year a golden school year—a year you interact with people from a Golden Rule-grade empathy. As Jesus said, this is what it all boils down to and what matters most. See what happens when you take Jesus at His Word.
