Plowing on through the year-long Bible study, I am now into Deuteronomy and Acts. I am struggling with remaining open-minded enough not to get bogged down by the minutia of the Old Testament laws.
But I also admit that I am doing everything I can not to frame the current national status within the context of the Old Testament laws. I do not understand why we have to make our lives so complicated by complex legislation.
You see, the New Testament law of loving one another supersedes everything else. As I read through the detailed explanations of the Old Testament Law, I see how even that one commandment encompasses all the initial ten commandments.
Therefore, I again implore all to use the Golden Rule as a litmus test for all decisions. Does the decision show love for one another? Is the decision something I want applied to myself? Can I apply this decision in my own life that I chose to love one another?
As I listen to the nightly news, I have a tendency to analyze what is going on along the rubric of the Golden Rule. How could the event or the person been different if the individuals involved really did use the Golden Rule.
I even find myself reviewing the personalities and wondering if they have stopped to consider whether or not they reflect the Golden Rule.
Needless to say that this is an over-simplification of any event I am sure, but if only we could live the Golden Rule as the one and only law that needed to be applied.
And this over-simplification probably will make many snicker, especially when our country is celebrating its independence. But, I fear that our founding fathers would not be impressed by the way our democracy is NOT using the Golden Rule.
Therefore, I invite all to join in prayer for the country, the leaders, and the people. . .
Dear all-knowing, all-powerful Lord, our God,
Forgive us for our narrow-minded thinking.
Open our minds that we honestly see and hear
what we say and do to one another.
Guide us to rethink our decisions and actions
using the Golden Rule as our guideline.
Move us to action to love one another in any way
that we can, whenever we can, at all the times
we can so your love reaches all. –Amen
[P.S. The holiday week has been gilled with grandkids, anniversary, and holiday—not to mention excessive rain. Next week will be busy, too, as I step away for a few days. I will see you after then.]
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