Humans are selfish. We are prone to think more about ourselves than others. We desire to do what we want and make ourselves happy. Walking the journey with Jesus, however, gives us a new nature. If we commit to love Jesus and love like Jesus, we gain the power to live our lives as we are called to live. Notice what Jesus didn’t say. He did not say, “Do to others whatever they did to you.” He also did not say, “Do to others so they will do something for you.” Jesus said, “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.” Then, Jesus takes this principle to another level entirely when He adds, “This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.” And there it is...those few words sum up the keys to the relationships that Jesus has been teaching. The old laws were about rules; the new laws are about how we love one another.

Consider these questions as you reflect on today’s reading:

When is it hardest for me to treat people the way I want to be treated?

Are there certain types of people with whom I have difficulty identifying?

What can I do today to make a positive step toward treating others the way I want to be treated?