August 30 — "You Do To Odda People…"

Today's Reading: Matthew 7

In today’s verse, we learn that because God lavishly blesses us, we’re called to let His Spirit transform us into people who naturally reflect His love by actively doing good to others.

Before Matthew 7:12, Jesus reveals our Father’s lavish generosity—delighting to give good things to His children. He promises that all who ask, seek, and knock will receive, find, and be welcomed, meeting our real needs with truly good gifts. If imperfect parents give good things, how much more will our flawless God bless those who come to Him?

Here’s the heart of it: Because God is like this—eager to respond, faithful to bless, thrilled to give—we’re called to mirror His generosity. That’s the message of verse 12: “So, whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them.” In other words, because God treats you this way, you’re invited to treat others the same—graciously, kindly, generously.

It’s true that versions of this “Golden Rule” existed before Jesus. Confucius said, “What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.” Greek philosopher Thales chimed in with, “Do not do to others that which angers you when they do it to you.” A modern, more cynical version (sometimes attributed to Groucho Marx) says, “Do unto others before they do unto you.” But notice the twist: all of these “rules” are expressed in the negative. Don’t harm. Don’t offend. Jesus flips the script to the positive. Do good. Be proactive. Or, as they say in Hawaiian Pidgin, “You do to odda people wat you like dem for do to you.”

That flip—from negative to positive—might seem small, but it’s massive. It’s the difference between seeing someone hungry and not stealing their bread… and seeing someone hungry and offering them yours.

Although we call this the “Golden Rule,” it’s not really a rule at all. It’s a portrait of the work God longs to do deep within us—making us Christlike in every way. We absorb this Gospel truth by remembering how God treats us. As we reflect on His love, the Holy Spirit begins reshaping our instincts to match His, transforming us from the inside out. It’s not about forcing ourselves to “do good,” but about becoming the kind of person who naturally radiates God’s goodness—because we’ve been radically changed by it.

May the Lord, who daily showers you with His goodness, fill your heart with His generosity. May your words be kind, your actions gracious, and your life a radiant reflection of His loving heart.