THE BASICS
Kingdom Kids devotions authorize Jesus’ LORDship over our lives.
Luke 6:27-8: “But I tell you who hear Me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
Jesus usually makes us shake our heads in disagreement. But the next statement usually finds us nodding our heads in agreement: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
Isn’t ‘The Golden rule’ what everybody learns in Kindergarten? Do we really learn all the basics in Kindergarten? What if life gets in the way? Can we remember all the basics that make life-smart? Some basics need repeating until we get them right as we grow older.
“You’re so wrong, Cassie!” twelve-year-old Missy screamed to her best friend.
Cassie bit her lower lip, thinking over what Missy just said. Boy, she is really angry at me! Could I be wrong? Cassie sighed. Then she wondered what would Jesus do? Her pondering their argument chewed up a minute before Cassie decided how to respond to Missy. “I’m sorry, Missy. Let’s not fight. The sun is so bright and the pool so inviting. Let’s jump in the deep end and figure this out later?”
Missy let out a huge breath. She smiled at Cassie when saying, “I can’t be mad at you for long! … Last one in is a rotten egg!”
“Treat others how you’d like to be treated,” goes down easy, but is hard to do. It’s even harder to do when we’re angry. Jesus NEVER said, “Do to others as they do to you!” If someone hits us, isn’t pushing them back our first urge? Check out the lesson linked below, for a quick review of Jesus’ basics.
We are never promised a rose garden. 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 says that Apostle Paul was imprisoned, beaten, shipwrecked, stoned, in immediate danger, hungry and thirsty—all for what Iron-Will Rosa (see her devotion) dreamed to share about Jesus to the world.
Yep, Jesus calls His followers to the impossible—apart from His living in us—connected to the vine (John 15:1). When someone uses us as a punching bag, we’re taught to “get back” with love. Jesus’s sap from the vine provides us the strength and courage to obey.
Take Home Nugget
Jesus never promised us fair and equal treatment. In fact, John 16:33 quotes Jesus’ exact words: “In this world you will have trouble.” But His next words flip our frowns to smiles: “But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Missy suddenly stopped playing. Cassie wondered, “What’s up?”
Missy admitted, “I forgot why I was angry with you! I guess it’s not important.”
Holy Lord, enable me to love others as you love me! Amen.
Adapted from “The Golden Rule” by Ms. Christine S. Weertz. June 13, 2018. Portals of Prayer devotional magazine. Missouri.
J.D. Griffith
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