{"id":1104,"date":"2019-02-24T15:10:31","date_gmt":"2019-02-24T23:10:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/?p=1104"},"modified":"2019-02-24T15:25:48","modified_gmt":"2019-02-24T23:25:48","slug":"the-true-gold-in-the-golden-rule","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/2019\/02\/24\/the-true-gold-in-the-golden-rule\/","title":{"rendered":"The True Gold in the Golden Rule!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><font color='black' size='2' face='arial'><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:WordDocument>   <w:View>Normal<\/w:View>   <w:Zoom>0<\/w:Zoom>   <w:TrackMoves\/>   <w:TrackFormatting\/>   <w:PunctuationKerning\/>   <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas\/>   <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false<\/w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>   <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false<\/w:IgnoreMixedContent>   <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false<\/w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>   <w:DoNotPromoteQF\/>   <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US<\/w:LidThemeOther>   <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE<\/w:LidThemeAsian>   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\tmso-fareast-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; \tmso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; \tmso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; \tmso-bidi-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} <\/style>\n\n <![endif]--><\/p>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;color:#212121\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-1104-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Epiphany-7-02-24-19.mp3?_=1\" \/><source type=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/FILELINK?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Epiphany-7-02-24-19.mp3\">http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Epiphany-7-02-24-19.mp3<\/a><\/audio>&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">The Seventh Sunday after Epiphany<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">February 24, 2019<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">Luke 6:27-36<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">The True Gold in The Golden Rule!<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify;tab-stops:13.5pt .5in 2.5in 238.5pt 337.5pt\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt\">\u201cBut I tell you who hear me:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Do to others as you would have them do to you.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Even &#8216;sinners&#8217; love those who love them.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? <span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;<\/span>Even &#8216;sinners&#8217; do that.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Even &#8216;sinners&#8217; lend to &#8216;sinners,&#8217; expecting to be repaid in full.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Do not judge, and you will not be judged.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Forgive, and you will be forgiven.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Give, and it will be given to you.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/i><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt\">(NIV1984)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">\u201cEureka! There\u2019s gold in them there hills!\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If you were led to make such a statement as you were digging in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Coloma, CA in 1848, you probably would have become a very rich person.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As you probably know, that was where and when the California Gold Rush began.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And if you had been willing to brave the wilderness of the Klondike region of the Yukon Territory in about 1896 you may have once again found yourself exclaiming, \u201cEureka!\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>After all, that is where the Alaskan Gold Rush began.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But, if you had been digging around in the Black Hills of South Dakota and came across something that made you cry out, \u201cEureka!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>There\u2019s gold in them there hills!\u201d the locals may have started to snicker.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>\u201cBlack Hills Gold\u201d or \u201cFool\u2019s Gold\u201d is (pardon the pun) not worth its weight in gold!<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">Gold is a world-wide standard.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It is a standard for money, for wealth and for prestige.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Whether it\u2019s used to make jewelry or coins or bathroom fixtures if you possess gold then you are considered to be rich.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Even the credit card companies try to lure people into using their particular card by issuing \u201cGold cards.\u201d<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">Now why all this talk about gold this morning?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Is this perhaps a surprise stewardship sermon to remind us of our congregation\u2019s budget?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Not at all.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The reason I wanted to get you thinking about gold today is because our sermon text for this morning contains what is universally referred to as The Golden Rule:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cDo to others as you would have them do to you\u201d <\/i>(Verse 31).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But since these words are often misunderstood and misapplied in our world today, this morning I\u2019d like us to see how the dear Lord Jesus Himself reveals to us:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">The True Gold in The Golden Rule!<\/i><\/b><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">Now if we were to look at just the opening four verses of our text it would be very difficult for us to understand what Jesus is talking about!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at what He says, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cLove your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Those are some very tough words to live by!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How can we do this?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Better yet\u2014 <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">why <\/i><\/b>should we do this?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>My goal this morning, my friends, is to help you see and understand how the Lord is using these words to reveal to us the true gold in the Golden Rule.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And to do just that, to achieve that goal we first need to turn to the very last sentence in this text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>There Jesus tells us, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cBe merciful, just as your Father is merciful.\u201d<\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">As the holy, just and perfect God, as the almighty Creator of heaven and earth our God has both the authority as well as the ability to do whatever He wants.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Examples?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When God said, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cLet there be light\u201d <\/i>(Genesis 1:3) \u2014 there was light!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When God said, \u201cLet the water cover the entire face of the earth so that not even the highest mountain peak is visible\u201d (See Genesis 6-9) \u2014 there was the world-wide Flood!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span>When God said, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cLazarus, come out!\u201d<\/i>(John 11:43) a man who had been dead and buried for four days walked out of his burial cave alive and well!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As the one and only true God the Lord our God does indeed have the authority as well as the ability to do whatever He deems best!<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">This also holds true when the Lord God deals with us human beings.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When our first parents\u2014 Adam and Eve\u2014 rebelled against their loving Creator thereby bringing sin into God\u2019s once perfect creation, the Lord had the authority as well as the ability to either annihilate them or instantly condemn them to an eternity in hell.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When the Israelites rebelled against the Lord who had brought them out of slavery in the land of Egypt, God had the authority as well as the ability to simply wipe them off the face of the earth.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When the people of Nazareth tried to murder Him, when the Pharisees and the Sadducees and the Teachers of the Law tried to trap Him with trick questions, when the Roman soldiers drove nails through His hands and feet and hung Him up to die on a cross (Pointing to the cross) like a common criminal, the Lord God of heaven and earth could have simply said, \u201cEnough is enough!\u201d and brought them all to their knees!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When you and I brazenly say to the God of heaven, \u201cYes, I know what your Word says, but this is what <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">I <\/b>believe and this is what <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">I <\/b>want to do!\u201d God could very easily just step in and stop our foolishness.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But that\u2019s not the way our God operates!<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">The Lord graciously gave to Adam and Eve the very first promise of a Savior, a Savior that He would send into this world.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Lord graciously gave to the Israelites the Promised Land of Canaan.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus wept over the unrepentant city of Jerusalem.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>At His crucifixion Jesus pleaded, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cFather, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing\u201d<\/i> (Luke 23:43).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When we are angrily kicking and screaming like a rebellious child because we don\u2019t want to follow what God says in His Word, Jesus loving shows us His hands and His side and His feet and says to us, \u201cThis is what I was willing to do for you because of my love for you.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">If you love me, you will obey what I command<\/i>\u201d (John 14:15).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Our God is compassionate.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Our God is forgiving.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Our God is love.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Our God is merciful.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And our God wants us, His children, to be a reflection of Him!<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cBe merciful, just as your Father is merciful.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That, my friends, is the true nugget of gold in the Golden Rule.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cDo to other as as you would have them do to you\u201d<\/i> simply cannot be understood correctly nor can it be applied in a God-pleasing way unless it is coupled with Jesus\u2019 words, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cBe merciful, just as your Father is merciful.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Golden Rule then actually has much more to do with motivation than anything else, doesn\u2019t it.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Not so sure about that statement?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at verses 32-34 of our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus says, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cIf you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Even \u2018sinners\u2019 love those who love them.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Even \u2018sinners\u2019 do that.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Even \u2018sinners\u2019 lend to \u2018sinners,\u2019 expecting to be repaid in full.\u201d<\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">When you buy a car or take out a mortgage from a bank or a credit union, is the person who approves that loan doing you a big favor?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Of course not!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>They\u2019re simply providing you with a \u201cservice.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s why we always have to pay back more money than we borrowed!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If you\u2019re nice to your neighbor because you want them to keep an eye on your house while you\u2019re at work or on vacation is that what being \u201cneighborly\u201d is all about?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If you know that your classmate at school or your acquaintance at work or that neighbor one block over always throws the best parties so you invite them to your party in hopes that they\u2019ll return the favor are you really their \u201cfriend\u201d?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Now someone might say that all three of these examples could very easily fall under the Golden Rule\u2014 <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cDo to others as you would have them do to you.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But such an understanding of the Golden Rule completely overlooks the true gold of the Golden Rule!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Applying the Golden Rule from that kind of perspective\u2014 which in reality is a very selfish perspective\u2014 has us mining for gold in the Back Hills instead of the Sierra Nevada Mountains!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>A fool\u2019s gold understanding of the Golden Rule looks at a situation and asks, \u201cWhat\u2019s in it for me?\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>A true gold understanding of the Golden Rule looks at the very same situation and asks, \u201cWhat would my Savior God have me do?\u201d<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">With that proper understanding of the Golden Rule, with the heartfelt realization that the true gold in the Golden Rule centers on our Lord\u2019s statement, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cBe merciful, as your Father is merciful,\u201d<\/i> now we can go back to those opening four verses of our text and understand exactly what Jesus means!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at just the first two verses once again, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cLove your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What is Jesus describing here?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He is describing our <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">attitude <\/b>isn\u2019t He!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As the children of God, as people who daily experience the grace\u2014 the undeserved love\u2014 of our God, as people who literally depend on the mercy of God for our eternal salvation, our attitude toward other people is very different from the attitude of the unbelieving world around us!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The world says, \u201cHate your enemies!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Hurt those who hate you!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Curse those who curse you!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Take vengeance on those who mistreat you!\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The world takes the gold completely out of the Golden Rule so that our attitude ends up being, \u201cDo unto others <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">before <\/b>they do unto you!\u201d<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">Can you imagine what would have happened to us and what would be waiting for us if that were the attitude God has toward us!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Just the thought makes our soul shudder!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Here is where we need to remember the true gold in the Golden Rule when it comes to the attitude that we have toward other people.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Just as God\u2019s attitude toward us is summarized by the cross on Calvary\u2019s hill (Pointing to the cross) so also we need to reflect the cross of Jesus Christ in our attitude towards other people\u2014 especially those who dislike us\u2014 by taking to heart our Savior\u2019s words, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cBe merciful, just as your Father is merciful.\u201d<\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">As we turn then to the next two verses of our text we see that the true gold in the Golden Rule covers much more than just our attitude!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It covers our actions as well!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus says, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cIf someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Here is where the rubber hits the road in our life of Christian sanctification, that is, openly living our life as a redeemed child of God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Our sinful nature tells us, \u201cIf someone hits you, hit them back harder!\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Our greedy nature tells us, \u201cIf someone takes something that belongs to you then do whatever is necessary to get it back and if they ever want to \u2018borrow\u2019 something again tell \u2018em to take a hike down to K-Mark and buy their own.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Once again, when we understand the true gold in the Golden Rule then we also understand both how our God wants us to act as well as the priorities our God wants us to have during the relatively short amount of time that we live here on this earth.<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">Now someone might ask, \u201cBut if we just let people do to us whatever they want or take from us whatever they want, what\u2019s to stop them from completely taking advantage of us and leaving us poor and destitute?\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Very good question!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Want a very good answer?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Remember Romans 12:17-21.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>There the Lord says, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cDo not repay anyone evil for evil.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God\u2019s wrath, for it is written:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>\u2018It is mine to avenge; I will repay,\u2019 says the Lord.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>On the contrary:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>\u2018If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In doing this you will heap burning coals on his head.\u2019<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We need to remember that the Lord God of heaven and earth Himself is both our Protector as well as our Provider.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Alright, but if we find ourselves in a situation where someone wants to hurt us do we have the right to defend ourselves?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Of course we do!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If we have locks on our doors and alarms on our cars should we use them?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Of course we should!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But if in His eternal wisdom God allows someone to do something thing \u201cbad\u201d to us, instead of plotting our revenge we first need to trust that somehow our Savior God will fulfill His promise to make everything work together for our eternal spiritual good.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See Romans 8:28)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then, instead of plotting our revenge we entrust the matter to the absolute perfect justice of the One who judges the living and the dead. (Pointing to the cross)<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">The Golden Rule.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Everybody knows the Golden Rule.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Many people even strive to live by the Golden rule.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But I fear that few people actually understand the true gold in the Golden Rule.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And since my goal this morning was to help you see and understand the true gold in the Golden Rule permit me to close by saying this:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Whenever you hear those words, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cDo to others as you would have them do to you\u201d<\/i> lift up your eyes to the cross and remember what those words emphasize: <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cDo unto others as your Savior God has done unto you.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Or as Jesus says in our text, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cBe merciful, just as your Father is merciful.\u201d<\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">To God be the glory!<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\">Amen <\/div>\n<p> <\/font><\/p>\n<div class=\"postie-attachments\">Download sermon audio ::  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Epiphany-7-02-24-19.mp3\">Epiphany-7-02-24-19.MP3<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Seventh Sunday after Epiphany February 24, 2019 Luke 6:27-36 The True Gold in The Golden Rule! &nbsp; Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, &nbsp; \u201cBut I tell you who hear me:&nbsp; Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.&nbsp; If someone strikes you [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1104","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1104","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1104"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1104\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1104"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1104"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1104"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}