"And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise." ~ Luke 6:31
This is not just a recommendation on how to treat strangers. It's a command of our Lord on how to treat every one we come in contact with including our spouses, our children, teachers, bosses, neighbors, restaurant servers, everyone. Notice it does not say, to treat them the way you want to be treated IF they are nice or IF they are fair with you or IF they show you respect.... Receiving respect, being treated kindly and fairly is often the result of having FIRST shown our love to others. We may not always be repaid with such positive results but neither was Christ, yet He did it anyway. Even our love for God only came after He first loved us. (1 John 4:19) Anyone can love those who love them back. (Luke 6:32) Brothers and sisters, we aren't just "anyone". "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's SPECIAL possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." (1 Peter 2:9) Let's be like our heavenly daddy and sweeten the world around us by showing love first, in the uncomfortable moments to those we personally find unlovely. Is this hard to do? Yes. Is this right to do? Yes. Will God help us? Yes. Everything in the Lord is Yes and Amen. When we take up our cross and love like this we will be walking in His footsteps. Be blessed today!