Yet Jesus Christ taught His followers that they should treat other people as they would like to be treated (Matt 7:12). Do you like being deceived, tricked, conned out of goods or money, called a liar when you are telling the truth, or have other people deny they did something when you know they did? Most people would answer – No! Most people like to be treated decently and fairly.
However, there are few people who will stand up for right, fewer who are unwilling to stand up for themselves, and even fewer people who will stand up for someone else who has been wronged. Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil to for good men to do nothing.”
In the book of Isaiah we read, “. . . cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.” (Isa. 1:16, 17) Furthermore Jesus taught that what wrongs we do or good we don’t do for our fellow human beings, we are actually doing to Jesus Christ. This is a very serious thought to consider.
every time we hurt or cause pain to some,
every time we rip someone off,
every time we either don’t do good work or repairs,
every time we deny doing wrong -
it is like we are doing it to Jesus Christ,
the only perfect person who ever walked the face of this earth!
Although we are physically doing it to other people, Jesus Christ is the one who feels the pain more than they do. We are actually crucifying Him afresh. Many Christians say that the Romans killed Jesus Christ, but in truth is was your sins; it was my sins; it was the sins of every human being that ever lived!
So how do we change so that we stop hurting others and Jesus Christ, the One who gave up all heaven to come to this earth to save us?
We change by reading the Bible and learning how Jesus lived His life on earth and following His example, with the help of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 3:18). We also change by following God’s law which is really a law of love ( https://www.vineyardlabourer.info/law_of_love.html ). We should also think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report (Phil 4:8).
So the next time you start to think about doing something mean, nasty, dishonest, unjust, or just plain nasty – stop and think how you would like it done to you. If you wouldn’t like it, then don’t do it to someone else. Make a stand to only do that which is true, honest, pure, lovely, and of good report. Make a stand for right!
Until next time – remember, safety first!