The "Golden Rule" Reminder

Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing. Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, here’s what you do: Say nothing evil or hurtful; Snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you’re worth. God looks on all this with approval, listening and responding well to what he’s asked; But he turns his back on those who do evil things. (I Peter 3:8)

Treat others as you want to be treated has been the "golden rule" for behavior for ages, has it not? So, why is it that we have to be reminded of it so frequently by observing the "bad behavior" of some? Believe it or not, the "Golden Rule" (Luke 6:31) is scriptural and has become the "Ethical Rule" of reciprocity over the ages. Yet, culture seems to struggle with this 'rule' on occasion, does it not? The whole idea of 'reciprocity' seems to be lost at times. Get what "I" want rather than what may actually be beneficial to all seems to be the mode of operation for some, right? It is hard to get our eyes off of "I" at times. "I" want, "I" need, "I" didn't get, "I" should have, "I" wasn't heard - the list could go on, but if "I" is at the center of the relationship, then there is very little room for "we" at all.

Bless - that's your job, to bless. Don't miss those words in this passage. When we take them seriously, realizing that is actually our calling in life, we have little room for "I" in that scenario. Embrace that calling to the fullest and your days will be filled with blessings of all kinds. Maybe they won't be physical blessings like a new car, or a promotion at work, but there will be hundreds of tiny blessings of great importance that will happen. Not all blessings are 'physical' or 'visible'. Some are just a feeling, an emotional experience. Often those blessings will 'cement' a relationship, make it a little deeper, and find it a little more rewarding. This includes, first and foremost, our relationship with Jesus!

Snub evil and cultivate good. Run after peace for all you're worth. Two very specific commands, but both require very specific action on our part. Snub evil and cultivate good. Snub - refuse its entry into your life. Don't embrace it in any form. Try as you might, you cannot simply ignore it - so the next part is very important - cultivate the opposite of evil. Break up the hardness of heart that brings evil into the mix - don't allow that hardened soil to become what marks your life. Keep your heart tender, your actions pure, and your spirit in tune with God's. Develop kindness as a practice you won't compromise, no matter what evil you encounter in your day. Embrace goodness - become an instrument of goodness. There is no higher purpose in this life. Just sayin!