Have you ever said or heard it said, “The same to you”? Was this stated with good intentions or as a spiteful retort?

The Bible presents this concept in a much more personal form. Here is what Jesus taught: “‘For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you’” (Matthew 7:2). He adds this emphasis: “‘Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets’” (Matthew 7:12).

You see, then, the responsibility we have for others begins with how we treat them—not with how they treat us!

This takes predetermined action on our part. It begins with how we think, and it transitions into our words and actions. Christians are to become like Jesus Christ—to learn to even think as He does (compare Philippians 2:5). In doing that, they grow toward godly perfection. There is no more forthright way of directing their thoughts than to do all that they do based on love, and they can establish their lives in love because they have the Holy Spirit of God—for God IS love! (1 John 4:8, 16).

Do you want to be loved? The Father shows us how through His own example: “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:10-11).

To be loved, we must love, and as Christians, we are to be the FIRST to love others. Love is the light we bring into this world of darkness: “‘But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil’” (Luke 6:35).

The next time a “the same to you” moment arises, be Christ-like! Whether you are responding or whether you initiate the first move, you do the unexpected—you act in love!

A quite remarkable statement is found in chapter five of Acts. It
has to do with how the founding apostles reacted upon being threatened,
imprisoned and then beaten–all for teaching in the name of Jesus
Christ: “So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing
that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:41).

One
of those apostles, Peter, reminds us of the approach we are to have:
“Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let
him glorify God in this matter” (1 Peter 4:16).

This teaching lies at the heart of Christianity, because it is the way in which Jesus lived His life.

Rejoicing
and glorifying God in the face of persecutions is, undoubtedly, a great
challenge for Christians, but what happens when we suffer for our own
mistakes? What kind of attitude must we show when we are corrected?

When
things just don’t go well in our lives, do we become discouraged? We
all do, but we must never give up–even if our trials seem
overwhelming. Consider what is said in Hebrews: “‘My son, do not
despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are
rebuked by Him; for whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every
son whom He receives'” (Hebrews 12:5-6).

When we make mistakes,
God–because He loves us–will discipline us! He does this in order
that we can complete our calling and “…that we may be partakers of
His holiness” (Hebrews 12:10). God has very specifically chosen to call
each one of us at this time! He is offering us an opportunity to be in
the first resurrection, called “a better resurrection” (Hebrews 11:35),
because those who attain this will not be subject to destruction, that
is, the second death (Compare Revelation 20:4-6).

Because we have
been given this incomparable calling, God is working with us to insure
our success. That means there will be times when we will have to face
and endure correction: “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the
present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable
fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews
12:11).

James addresses this aspect of our calling with a
stunning challenge: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into
various trials” (James 1:2).

When you become discouraged, when
life seems to overwhelm, when there just appears to be no help–take it
to God! Take time to realize that God is still there for you and with
you–regardless of whether you are suffering as a Christian or you are
being corrected.

What are we to say in times such as these? As
paradoxical as it might appear to others, our response should be one of
gratitude to God. You might consider starting your conversation with
God with these words–Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

There are times when we really need help!

That need may arise
because we find ourselves caught up in disaster–such as the terrible
plight we have witnessed in the devastating tidal waves of Asia; or the
hurricanes in the southeastern United States; or the heart-rending
starvation in parts of Africa; or the countless other traumas that
continue to scar this earth with unrelenting persistence.

Many
governments, as well as individuals, have generously responded with
help for those who could not help themselves, but the need is simply
greater than either the willingness or the ability of those who can
help.

In that massive landscape of trouble, we might feel helpless–but that is not the case at all! Not for those who serve God!

Note
what God says–a statement that we need to be reminded of, especially
when we need help: “‘Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is
there anything too hard for Me?'” (Jeremiah 32:27).

Among many
Psalms that reveal God as our Helper, one by the sons of Korah is
particularly reassuring: “God is our refuge and strength, A very
present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the
earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of
the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains
shake with its swelling” (Psalm 46:1-3).

Add to this the
confirmation that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, now stands as our High
Priest: “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we
may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Sadly,
this world and its inhabitants in this age of Satan’s rule do not have
this help (Compare Ephesians 2:11-13; 1 John 5:19; John 18:36). But it
is different for those whom God has called out of this world.
Considering this contrast of Satan’s rule to our unparalleled promises,
we have reason for hope in times of need. However, along with this
comes responsibility to fulfill our own calling by being willing to
help–to do as Jesus did by doing our part in proclaiming the good news
of God’s Kingdom to this world–and to continue teaching those who
respond.

Speaking of the time that immediately precedes God’s
intervention in order that He might help and save this world, this is
stated: “He saw that there was no man, And wondered that there was no
intercessor…” (Isaiah 59:16); Also: “‘I looked, but there was no one
to help, And I wondered That there was no one to uphold…'” (Isaiah
63:5).

That indictment testifies to the utter helplessness of a
world that will soon face its own destruction, should God not intervene
to save it! The way we can help (and find help for ourselves) is to
continue to proclaim the wonderful truth and the certain hope that God,
with whom all things are possible, ultimately will give this world the
greatest possible help–He “will wipe away every tear from their eyes;
there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no
more pain…” (Revelation 21:4).