CWW WEEK 25 - Day 6 - Come And Reason
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CWW WEEK 25 DAY 6 COME AND REASON
Matthew 7:12
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to
you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
This “Golden Rule” encapsulates how we should act towards
others, reflecting Jesus’ teachings on loving and serving others.
I thank God for this principle, I mean I really do THANK GOD.
In the past few years I found myself in and out of a constant stream
of skirmishes. It has robbed me of my serenity and contentment
with the life that God has given me. I have too often given over to
conflict instead of conversation.
Over time as these battles inflicted scar tissue, I began realising the
real power in surrender; in letting go. I have realised that the battle
is not mine but God’s and He alone will fight it and take the glory in
the victory. He has already won.
What has Jesus called me and you to do?
Adopt His character as the work of a lifetime. Day by day fulfilling
His desire for us to play our part by growing our character in His
image. By taking on this task, our only requirement is to “turn up
for work each day.”
Why is it so hard to grasp this basic principle of treating others as
we would like to be treated.
Do you like to receive kindness? Then be kind to others.
Do you like to receive mercy? Then be merciful to others.
Do you like to be forgiven? Then forgive others.
Do you like to feel connected? Then connect with others.
Do you like to feel safe? Then offer safety and shelter to others.
Do you like to be served? Then serve others.
Do you like to feel loved? Then offer love to others.CWW WEEK 25 DAY 6 COME AND REASON
Yes love to others, even those who have chosen to inflict their pain
upon you. Did not Jesus die on the cross carrying the burden of
our pain afflicted upon Him?
Does this seem crazy?
Yes it does until you try it for yourself. I have diffused so many
unexploded bombs lately by doing just this. It blows me away to
think that we resist this basic principle by taking ourselves too
seriously.
Nothing builds your resilience and immunity more than this and the
peace to be found is breath taking.
There are many powerful examples I might mention but let me offer
one simple illustration from an event that happened recently.
I was asked by the bank to go to my local branch and re-produce
some documents that I knew the bank already had.
These documents had to be certified and I attended my local
country agency branch with a staff of two ladies. I had a feeling this
was going to be tedious and was expecting this to drag out.
Presenting the documents, the manager told me that she thought
head office would not accept them because only the signature
page was certified and not all the others.
She called head office and we were both waiting for them to
answer for over an hour. Both she and the other staff member were
embarrassed and when we finally got onto to someone they could
not give a definitive answer to the question we had waited over an
hour to ask.
I could feel the tension rising as the embarrassment of the staff
became palpable. My frustration levels were going through the roof
but that wasn’t their fault it was the system. To relieve the tension I
said, “Just to take the pressure off you both let me just say that I
am frustrated but not angry because this is a system failure and
you two are just as much affected by this as I am so please relax
and we will ride this merry-go-around together.”CWW WEEK 25 DAY 6 COME AND REASON
The climate in the office changed dramatically.
I have now formed a habit to play the higher thought game. When
someone throws a punch I come back with a higher thought rather
than retaliation. This is not submissive behaviour in the context of
the way the world sees it but assertive behaviour because nothing
destroys your enemy more than making him your friend.
I am not withholding power by doing this I am actually unleashing
the Heavenly power of the universe.
In making a choice to love someone I may not like, I am setting
myself free and them as well.
People who attack are disarmed when we don’t attack back. The
truth is that they behave as they do because they have become
used to a cycle of condemnation and that’s what they are fighting
against. When we condemn them too we reinforce the reason for
the behaviour that caused the original offence. The cycle must be
broken and the only way I know to do this with a lasting effect is to
treat others the way I too would like to be treated.
Instead of building higher and thicker walls is it now time to start
tearing them down?
Could it be this simple?
Questions.
1. 2. 3. Who wins when we retaliate?
Would you like to live in a world of love and trust?
Are you ready to surrender all this angst to God and let Him
fight these battles for you?
Prayer.
Dear Lord, Papa God.
When your Son died on the cross He showed us the epitome of
character development. He not only shone His light on You Papa
but on the gates of Heaven and the secret of eternal life. HisCWW WEEK 25 DAY 6 COME AND REASON
methods clearly demonstrate that principles of love always win in
the end. Why do we resist Lord? Why do we fight it?
Papa please be patient with us and help us to see more and more
day by day that we must treat others as we would like to be treated
because this fulfils all the laws and the prophets and gives us the
greatest peace while showing others the way.
We pray this in Jesus Holy name. Amen.
Have a great day today with Jesus.
Graham Hood.
