Let’s Get Out the Golden Ruler
We have heard the Golden Rule many times. Jesus was being harassed by people who wanted to be right more than they wanted to do what was right.
The Pharisees and Sadducees didn’t even like each other. But they were united in their dislike of this man, Jesus. He was causing people to question their teaching.
In Matthew 22:37–39 Jesus gave them a teaching, now called the “Golden Rule”. He said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Why is loving God and others the most important commandment? In the Upper Room Jesus told his followers, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
(John 13:34–35).
Jesus taught them that all of Scripture depended on their love for God and their neighbor. Later, He said if they wanted people to know they were HIS disciples, they needed to love each other like Jesus loved them.
Just who are His disciples? Those who vote a certain way? Those who give God their time and money? Those who do or don’t do certain things? Those who are faithful church attenders?
Maybe that’s a list for measuring a disciple – but not the most important. It is a LOT easier to do that list than the most important commandment. And Jesus said everything else depends on us loving God and loving one another—like He loves.
If we love like Jesus, His message will prosper in the world because of the power of Christ’s love. The only time I ever love another person like Jesus is when his Holy Spirit loves them through me. I can’t love like Jesus any other way. Our world needs the love of Christ, through His disciples. Jesus needs us to obey His commandment.
The words of an old Gospel song goes like this:
“Love through me, Holy Spirit, love through me,
I will be my brother’s keeper, love through me;
Hearts are bleeding deep inside, love can dry the weeping eye,
Love through me, Holy Spirit, love through me”
I pray, as Jesus’ disciples, that we will love others. I hope people will know we are His disciples by how greatly we love. No Christ; no love! Know Christ; know love!