How To Truly Fulfill the Golden Rule 

 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. (Matthew 7:7-12)        

Most of us have heard verse 12 many times. Known as “The Golden Rule,” it’s often rendered, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto do.”

 

Yet have you ever stopped to think about the context of this passage?

Ask, and it shall be given you…

 

It’s about asking. Asking our Father for good things. As a child asks her loving father for what she wishes, may we ask our Heavenly Father for what we wish as we walk in a relationship with Him.

 

And that is how we truly “do to others as we would have them do to us.” Asking. Prayer impacts others the most deeply and strongly. Praying for others is how we truly love them. Lay down yourself before God on behalf of others that they may draw nearer to God (see Isaiah 51:25). Greater love has no one than this: that a person lay down her life (in Greek, soul: mind, will, emotions) for her friends.

 

We tend to want to help others by talking to them about God—or, as writers, by writing about Him. And while that can be helpful or encouraging, it’s even better to talk to GOD about THEM! Our Almighty God delights to do great things when we pray! ALL THINGS that you want others to do for you, do even so to them . . . all things equals PRAYER!

Father, may we enter into Your true ministry of prayer and intercession. Thank You that we have Jesus Christ our High Priest living within us that we might come boldly to the throne of grace and find mercy and grace to help in time of need for us and for others. Like Job, please turn our captivity as we pray for our friends.

“I never before knew what it was to work all day and then pray all night before God for another… In college or at parties at home, I used to keep such hours for myself, or pleasure, and can I not do as much for God and souls?” ~ John Hyde (“Praying Hyde”)