Good morning, and a blessed Thursday to you.

Would you please open your Bibles with me to the Gospel of Luke, chapter six? Today, we turn our attention to the Golden Rule—a teaching of Jesus that speaks directly to how we are called to treat one another.

In Luke 6:31, Jesus says,
"Do to others as you would have them do to you."

This is an echo of Leviticus 19:18, and what’s interesting is that nearly every major religion and philosophical system has some form of the Golden Rule. However, most often it's stated in the negative. In other words, “Don’t do to others what you wouldn’t want done to you,” or “Avoid inflicting on others the suffering you want to avoid.” That form is easier to follow, isn't it? Because when something is framed in the negative, it's about not doing something. It's passive.

But Jesus expresses the Golden Rule in the positive. He emphasizes what we should do, and in doing so, He challenges what we’re often tempted to do—namely, to live by the principle of reciprocity.

Look with me at verses 32–34:

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.”

That’s the temptation—to twist the Golden Rule into a rule of return:
“If you love me, I’ll love you.”
“If you do something good for me, I’ll do something good for you.”
“If you lend to me, I’ll lend to you.”

But now look at verse 35:

“But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.”

This is not the Golden Rule in its negative form.
This is not reciprocity.
This is the Golden Rule as a selfless expression of love.

And Jesus lived this out, didn’t He?
Scripture tells us in Romans 5 that “while we were still enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son.” We were born enemies of God. We wanted nothing to do with Him—and yet, what did God do? He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to redeem us. At the cross, Jesus shed His blood, paying the debt for our sin. That is the grace and mercy of God—an incredible expression of divine love.

So today, here’s the question:
Who can you bless with the Golden Rule?

Not the negative version.
Not the twisted version rooted in reciprocity.
But the Jesus way—the selfless way.

Who can you bless today?

Let’s pray.

Gracious Heavenly Father,
We thank You for this time in Your Word. Your Word is truth.
Thank You, Lord, for the words of Jesus and for His living example of the Golden Rule.
Thank You that, through the power of the Holy Spirit, You equip us to live it out as well.
Use us today to reflect Your glory and love.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

May God bless and encourage you today.

Pastor Eibel