Daily Devo
Do to Others...
By: Lisa Hodgins
Saturday, March 22, 2025
Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:12 (NLT)
This principle is sometimes called "the Golden Rule", but how should we apply it to our lives? We can start by examining the life of Joseph. He experienced a lot of unfair things, but the worst was when his hateful brothers threw him into a cistern to die. But God sent a caravan of Midianite traders to pass by at just the right moment. His brothers ended up selling Joseph to the traders, and they carried him off to Egypt. Later, his oldest brother Reuben returned, planning to rescue Joseph from the pit. When he discovered what the other brothers had done, he tore his clothes in grief and lamented, “The boy is gone! What will I do now?” Rueben had more concern for his own welfare than he did for Joseph's.
In a tough situation, do you have more concern for yourself than you have for others? Do you ever consider how the problem you're facing will impact others? Years later, a famine hit, and Joseph’s brothers went down to Egypt for food. When they came to beg for food, Joseph recognized them, but they didn’t recognize him. Joseph could have hung on to the bitterness of past betrayal... Instead he chose to forgive them. He even gave them food which saved the entire Israelite nation.
Is there anyone you need to forgive? Maybe you are bitter and angry towards someone because of how they mistreated you. When someone hurts us, we don't have to forget what they did, but God's Word says we must forgive them. When we leave justice up to God, He will heal our heart. Forgiveness doesn't condone the evil done to us, it keeps us from disobeying God's commands. Jesus taught about the importance of forgiving others in Matthew 6:14-15, saying if we don't forgive, our Heavenly Father won't forgive us!
Luke 10:25-37 is the story of how religious leaders walked right past a man who had been beaten and left for dead. Only the Samaritan showed him mercy. Forgiving someone is showing mercy. Is there anyone in your life that you could show mercy to? Remember, forgiveness is something that happens in our heart. In some cases the people we forgive may never even know we've forgiven them... but God knows!
Not sure what to do? Then do what our opening verse says; "Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you."
Read: Deuteronomy 6:18, Ephesians 6:8