Devotion of the Week

For All the Right Reasons

“Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.”—Luke 6:31 (NASB)

Jesus taught his followers to be considerate of others, to treat others with dignity and kindness. He said you should do for others the kinds of things you’d like them to do for you.

Emma had no trouble following this Golden Rule at school with her friends. She treated them with respect, she complimented them on their clothes, she helped with homework, and she cheered for them at volleyball games. But her home life was a different story. She snarled at her little brother when he accidentally bumped into her. She pronounced her sister’s outfit dorky.

Jesus reminds us to treat others the way we want to be treated. Emma did that at school—but for the wrong reasons. She wasn’t concerned about being loving or respectful. She just wanted certain girls to like her. At home, she didn’t care what her brother and sister thought, and she treated them accordingly. Emma needs to examine her motives. We aren’t supposed to love others in order to get something from them. “People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives” (Proverbs 16:2 NLT).

Treat others the way you would like to be treated, but show love for the right reasons.

More Devotions to Get You Thinking

How Hungry Are You?

For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. Psalm 107:9 (NLT)

God satisfies our spirit like good food fills our bodies. God fills us up and meets our needs. He quenches our thirst and satisfies our hunger with excellent and desirable things.

You get hungry every day. Would your body be happy with one meal per week? No! In fact, many people eat much more than three times a day to feel satisfied. One meal per week would eventually kill you. Your spirit needs feeding too, and the Bible contains our spiritual food. Sitting in church for one hour per week feeds your soul as much as one meal per week would feed your body. Major anorexia! You can become depressed, anxious, fearful, critical, and impatient—all signs of a starving and malnourished soul.

Set aside some time to be quiet with God every day. Start out small, if this is new to you. Five or ten minutes of Bible reading, plus five or ten minutes of prayer is fine to start. Making it a habit is your first goal. Your soul may be starving, but small daily meals of the Word will bring it back to full health.

Suppose you just don’t feel hungry for God’s Word. Most days you don’t even think of reading your Bible or praying. Then pray and ask God to increase your spiritual hunger and thirst. He delights to answer prayers like that! When we’re hungry and thirsty enough, we’ll go to the source of our food and eat till full. “Those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.” (Psalm 34:10 NIV)

So dig into God’s Word first thing every morning, and eat your fill. It satisfies!

Acceptance Guaranteed

Those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. John 6:37 (NLT)

Jesus said he would never reject or push away anyone who trusted in him. We just need to go to him. He knows we aren’t perfect, but he approves of us and accepts us and lives in us! No matter who on this earth rejects you, Jesus will never reject you.

We all want the acceptance and approval of friends and family members. Rejection is one of the hardest, most painful things we have to endure in this life. Classmates may reject us because we look different, or have little money. Family members may treat us with scorn or disregard our wishes and opinions, almost as if we’re invisible.

The worst rejection, however, is when we reject ourselves. We decide that because someone else doesn’t like us or accept us that there must be something wrong with us. Many of us are very gifted and talented—in art, music, writing, singing. But we’re afraid to express ourselves because we fear the rejection of others. What will they think of us? Will they laugh and point fingers?

Jesus accepts you just the way you are. He knew you weren’t perfect when he saved you. He knows you have weaknesses and that you make mistakes. Even so, he will never reject you. Nothing can ever come between you and God’s love for you. “I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels can’t, and the demons can’t. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away” (Romans 8:38 NLT).

Spend time with the Lord. His love will transform your life.

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For All the Right Reasons
“Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.”—Luke 6:31 (NASB)