Treat others how you want to be treated
I had planted a seed and was staring at the ground. When the Lord came up behind me and asked, “What will come up?”
“An apple tree,” I replied.
“How do you know?” God asked.
This perplexed me because I thought the answer was obvious. “I expect an apple tree because I planted an apple seed. I know it will be an apple tree because in Genesis it says that each kind begot their own kind. I can’t plant an avocado tree and plan to get an apple tree. Whatever you plant is what you get.”
“Well said, daughter. Now, why do you plant unforgiveness, frustration, thoughts of retaliation, gossip, and anger and expect to receive a healed relationship? What you plant, water and tend to is what you get.”
***
Well said, Lord. My husband and I are facing a difficult relationship that challenges us in every way. We love the person, but frankly, have a hard time training our tongues to only speak righteous things. I agree with the Lord, that I need to capture each thought and hold it captive until it agrees with the Lord.
Do any of you face the arduous task of dealing with a difficult relationship and always responding in love? Do you have to complete the task of attempting to treat others how you want to be treated?
“give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38, ESV).
I love this scripture and use it often in my prayer groups. What we must remember is it’s not just talking about physical goods or rewards. In fact, this verse also applies to potentially negative things both spiritually and physically.
Let’s go up further in the scripture and search out the full meaning of this verse.
“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
Judging Others
“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:35-38, ESV).
The vision God gave me and this scripture both drilled holes through my heart. It’s obvious I am walking in disobedience when I choose unforgiveness instead of mercy. We don’t get to wait until the person is sorry for their behavior. In the above verse, it says we must be merciful as God is merciful even to the ungrateful.
Will this person who challenges our ability to love without judgment even notice our efforts? Maybe not. In fact, her behavior might even get worse. But we are required to love anyway.
Another question we must ask ourselves is, are we the ungrateful ones? Do we look past all our emotional, spiritual, and physical provisions given to us by God, and complain about the one thing we don’t have?
I have to confess here in this open place. I have been ungrateful and unforgiving.
I think the Lord meant more than what society says when they say. Treat others how you want to be treated. I think He wants us to treat people how He would treat them. This is a much higher calling.
Prayer for you and me: Lord Jesus, I am thankful. Help my ungratefulness. I desire to forgive and speak blessings over those you have put in my life, even the most difficult person. Even when that person is me. Help me to always speak and act with Your faithful mercies and not my unrighteous human understanding.
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