Want a rule for life? Try this one . . .

Genesis 7; Matthew 7; Ezra 7; Acts 7

Today’s reading is about two well-known Bible passages: John 3:16 and Matthew 7:1. However, the one that catches my attention is also familiar. We call it the Golden Rule . . .

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:12–14)

My first thought is how different the world would be if we lived out this rule, but would it? Would everyone agree on the best way to be treated? A child has different ideas than a parent. A greedy employee has different ideas than his boss. Women have different wants than men.

Not only would those differences confuse the issue, how many children would give back to their parents what they want for themselves? How many workers would give back to their employer what they would like for themselves. How many women would treat their husbands the way they want to be treated? I’m generalizing, but in thinking about it, the Golden Rule is not as easier as it looks.

The context offers one explanation. Jesus said to enter by the narrow gate. He is talking about the narrow way to eternal life, that life that is abundant and comes from Him. The broad way (trying to run my own life) leads to destruction. The narrow way is narrow because few find it. Jesus adds more . . .

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:21–23)

The goodness that the Golden Rule refers to is a goodness that comes from and flows through people who know God. This is not merely knowing about God but having a personal relationship with Him through redemption and the new birth. Jesus also said:

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (John 17:3)

Those with that kind of life are able to pass it on without selfish motivations. Otherwise, living by the Golden Rule becomes a “what’s in it for me” way of life. Anyone who is ‘nice’ to me because they want something makes me feel used and disrespected and I’m sure that goes both waysl

How do I want others to treat me? this is a great question. I want them to listen when I talk to them, respect my thoughts and opinions, correct me or at least question my errors, pray for me when I come to mind, bring me soup when I am sick. The list is longer, but this is enough to keep me busy for a long time!

Four well-aimed thoughts . . .

Genesis 6; Matthew 6; Ezra 6; Acts 6

Those who mock the Bible as a dusty old and irrelevant book don’t know what they are missing. I’ve been reading it for decades, asking God each day to give me what I need to hear. Each day He proves to me the truth that: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16–17)

Today is no exception. My devotional guide offers four chapters to read and each one of them gave me one item from the above list. First, Genesis reveals the expanding results of sin and God’s response to it . . .

When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown. The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. (Genesis 6:1–8)

I’ve wondered who these sons of god were until realizing god should not be capitalized. In context, these were powerful men, made so by the pagan god, and no matter what that god might be, Satan backed it. This enemy was doing what he could to cause resistance to God and the result was sin so rampant that God regretted creating human beings. Serious stuff. However, one man was God-inclined and we know the story; he and his family were saved from a flood that destroyed all other people. I’m reminded to watch my own life. Even one sin can have terrible ramifications.

Ezra points to God’s mercy. The work on the temple had been halted by an Assyrian king, but God had given a prior king the heart to allow His people to rebuild it. They did the work then kept the Passover as instructed. The priests purified themselves, offered the sacrifice and “It was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile, and also by every one who had joined them and separated himself from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land to worship the Lord, the God of Israel. And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the Lord had made them joyful and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, so that he aided them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.” (Ezra 6:19–22)

Matthew gave me a rebuke by reminding me how I sometimes feel pride in my heart over silly things, like I know the words of a hymn without needed to look at the overhead, or that I am praying or doing something that pleases God and hope that others notice. Today, He says this to me:

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:1)

Reading Acts is like a sidebar. My reaction to it also hints at pride instead of humility. The early church had a problem with taking care of hungry widows . . .  

And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:2–4)

At first, I’m thinking preaching is more important than serving tables, but the qualifications are the same for both tasks. God says the body of Christ has no parts more important than others. I must not put anyone on a pedestal for any reason. This is pride in status.

God speaks. I need to be alert, to pay attention to any “hidden” attitudes that eventually show up in how I treat others. Look what one bite of fruit did to the world. Remember the mercy of God as He rebuilds His temple — which is now the hearts of His people. I’m to serve them in love, without pride or disrespecting anyone, focusing on how He wants to change me.

Uniquely human

Genesis 5; Matthew 5; Ezra 5; Acts 5

Evolutionists declare that early man was ape-like and primitive. The Bible says, “When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God.” This is not said of any animal, ape or otherwise.

Not only that, these early humans knew God and walked with Him. (Genesis 5:24) The father of Noah even prophesied about his son, “Out of the ground that the Lord has cursed, this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the painful toil of our hands.” (Genesis 5:28–29) Note, Noah later built a huge ark that held every species yet he had no engineering degree.

Later, the Israelites drifted away from following the Lord and wound up enslaved in Babylon. After a few years, the king of Babylon decreed that these people return to their land and rebuild their place of worship. After they began that task, their efforts were questioned. Their response was humble admission and yet a reasonable defense:

“We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished. But because our fathers had angered the God of heaven, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried away the people to Babylonia. However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree that this house of God should be rebuilt. And the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and brought into the temple of Babylon, these Cyrus the king took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor; and he said to him, ‘Take these vessels, go and put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its site.’ Then this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and from that time until now it has been in building, and it is not yet finished.’ Therefore, if it seems good to the king, let search be made in the royal archives there in Babylon, to see whether a decree was issued by Cyrus the king for the rebuilding of this house of God in Jerusalem. And let the king send us his pleasure in this matter.” (Ezra 5:11–17)

These are not the words of a primitive or ignorant people. Hundreds of years later, Jesus described what godly people should be like and when He said, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5) I thought of the meekness of those who were obediently rebuilding the temple even though kings were telling them to stop.

Jesus also said to His vast audience, “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20) and “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:43–45) and “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)

These are not commands that you give to primitive or ignorant people. How can an ape love its enemies or pray for them? How can descendants of any critter be ‘perfect’ as God is perfect?

Humans feel guilt. Consider the couple in Acts 5 who donated ‘all’ the funds from their property but lied and only gave part of their profit. The disciples called them on it and when both realized their deception was known, they died on the spot. Tell even the most sophisticated animal that you are on to their tricks and they will ignore you.

The Christians in Acts 5 refused to stop talking about Jesus even though ordered to do so. They went beyond even the most educated people and “filled Jerusalem” with their teaching. Their response, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” (Acts 5:28–32)

Only a person convinced they are made in God’s image and have been given God’s message would say that. If I believed that my ancestors were apes, I would not be interested in Jesus Christ or in spending eternity with Him.