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<Previous Message Next Message> Tuesday, November 17, 2015 ![]() Antique Cart on front porch on Donegal Springs Road, Mount Joy, PA "Golden Rule Living"
![]() “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 7:12). Several weeks ago we shared a lesson prompted by a very well-done commercial now airing on television. I enjoy watching football and most commercials are break time for me but there are some that do catch my attention. ![]() ![]() Of course, it strikes you deep in the heart, that this engineer was actually lovingly loading the empty car with his own family, an everyday occurrence. This dramatized commercial had a Golden Rule component to its message. He was doing unto others (people who will buy that brand of car) as he would want them to do for him and his cherished family. The Golden Rule is one of the most familiar sayings from our Lord. I suppose I first learned it at VBS or Sunday School as a child in a Methodist Church in Belton, Missouri. Brooksyne remembers it being posted at her public elementary school in Tulsa Oklahoma. (Now we suppose if anyone realizes it comes from the Bible it would need to be removed!) Included in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount it easily stands out as a simple principle for thinking not only of oneself but also treating others fairly. I learned it as, "Do to others as you would have them do to you" (KJV). The NASV reads, "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets." A similar expression of the golden rule is found in Philippians 2:4, "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others (Philippians 2:4). Spurgeon notes that "the law and the prophets are here condensed into a single sentence. This is the golden rule, a handy rule, a perpetually-applicable rule, useful in every condition, and it never makes a mistake." ![]() The application of this rule would put a stop to all injustice and wrong; for none of us would do injustice or wrong to ourselves, and we are to treat our neighbour as if he were ourself. It would lead us to seek the highest good of all other men, even the lowliest; for we surely want all men to seek our good. The thorough applying of this Golden Rule would end all conflict between capital and labour; for it would give the employer a deep, loving interest in the men he employs, and lead him to think of their good in all ways. It would also give to every employee a desire for the prosperity of his employer and an interest in his business. It would end all strife in families, in communities, among nations. The perfect working of this rule everywhere would make heaven; for the will of God would then 'be done on earth, as it is in heaven'." Consideration is the practice of the golden rule in the small details of life; beginning in the home and extending to all relationships. What if the billions of personal interactions that take place all over the globe today were truly characterized by this rule? That would surely bring about world peace but in reality that just isn't going to happen until the return of the Prince of Peace. But by God's transforming grace we can all do something in our little corner of the world. Today in our speech and actions let us keep this attitude foremost in our hearts; "In humility consider others better than yourselves" (Philippians 2:3). We live in a very fallen world where fewer and fewer practice the Golden Rule. We, as followers of Christ, light up the world when we individually and corporately practice the golden rule. Today let us all subject ourselves to "Golden Rule Living". Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber ![]() I recall a story which relates to today's topic. It took place in Germany during the Cold War. East Berlin was Communist controlled and West Berlin was a free country. One day some people in East Berlin took a truckload of garbage and dumped it on the West Berlin side. The people of West Berlin could have done the same thing. But instead they took a truckload of canned goods, bread, and milk . . . and neatly stacked it on the East Berlin side. On top of this stack they placed the sign: "EACH GIVES WHAT HE HAS." (Wow, was that a subtle yet powerful message!) Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"Golden Rule Song" Video "The Old Country Church" Video Homecoming Singers "The Son Shines Down On Me" Video Canton Junction Acura – Safety – The Test Video "When you don't think of them as dummies, something amazing happens." Note: Last week I mentioned that we planned to go to Washington today for a special screening of the movie, 3801 Lancaster: American Tragedy. That bus trip was canceled although the film will still be shown (See here for info).
Special Thanksgiving Resources
We offer these resources to families and church leaders to enrich the spiritual impact of the Thanksgiving holiday. We will leave them up through Thanksgiving. We appreciate singing the traditional Thanksgiving hymns. Here are several classics that you may or may not hear this season. "Be Magnified" Video Kim Hill "In Everything Give Him Thanks" Video The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir "In Everything Give Thanks" Video Charlotte Ritchie, Jeff & Sheri Easter This song will bring joy to your heart! "Now Thank We All Our God" Video Best Loved Hymns "Come Ye Thankful People Come" Video Traditional version Contemporary version but thankfully maintaining same tune and lyrics Video "Thanksgiving Medley" (We Gather Together, For The Beauty Of The Earth, Come Ye Thankful People Come) Video Studio Musicians "Give Thanks" Video Don Moen "Thank You Lord" Video Community choir at a Lancaster Day of Prayer event in 2008. "Thank You Lord For Saving My Soul" Video Holland Davis ![]() "A Thanksgiving family exercise" (pdf) We have used this questionnaire as a stimulus for discussion among family members in the past in our home. We encourage you to share results around the table at Thanksgiving before or after the meal. A Thanksgiving prayer: Written by Joe Sherer, a pastor friend of ours and shared as the benediction at our community Thanksgiving Eve service several years ago. (web page) For those who enjoy written prayers this would be a beautiful prayer to read together at the Thanksgiving table. A Thanksgiving Scripture reading: A selection of Old and New Testament readings dealing with thankfulness appropriate for church, family and personal readings. (pdf) (Suitable for printing out and copying.) "Thanks" Video Marshall Hall and the Homecoming Singers "I Want To Thank You" Video Karen Peck and New River This is a song expressing thankfulness to the many people who impact our lives and also reminds us of the blessing of seemingly insignificant expressions of faith. From the Gaither Homecoming series. "Thank You Lord For Your Blessings On Me" Video Gordon Mote & Jason Crabb "Come We Thankful People Come" Video Traditional version Here's a bit more contemporary version with same lyrics. "I'm Forever Grateful" Video Willow Creek "Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart" Video Don Moen "When I Thank Him For What He Has Done" Video The Cathedrals "Worthy Is The Lamb Crown Him .. Crown Him With Many Crowns" Video Travis Cottrell "Thank You, Lord" Video Dennis Jernigan "Thank You For Loving Me" Video Tommy Walker "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)" Video Matt Redman "For These Reasons" Video Lincoln Brewster To receive the "Daily Encouragement" each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe to our email list. You can also subscribe to the Wordpress rss feed or through a Wordpress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.) ![]() ![]() Permissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. I do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact. Text only version for printing: To make a text only version for printing (without photos or any of the supplemental materials) 1) Open the basic text editor that comes with all computers (known as wordpad, textpad, etc.) You can also use a program like Word and select paste text only. 2) Select and copy the text from the portion of the message you want to print. 3) Paste into the text pad. (The photos won't show up but you will have a brief text description of the photo which you can delete or just ignore.) 4) Format if you desire (change font, increase or decrease size, etc.) 5) Print! Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version. Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity." © Copyright 2015 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA |