ESOCS Devotional 9 February 2026 – The Golden Rule
MEMORY VERSE: “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” Luke 6:31 KJV
TEXT: LUKE 6:13-34
And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles: 14 Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; 15 Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; 16 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.
17 And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, 18 as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed. 19 And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.
20 Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said:
“Blessed are you poor,
For yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
For you shall be filled.
Blessed are you who weep now,
For you shall laugh.
22 Blessed are you when men hate you,
And when they exclude you,
And revile you, and cast out your name as evil,
For the Son of Man’s sake.
23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy!
For indeed your reward is great in heaven,
For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.
24 “But woe to you who are rich,
For you have received your consolation.
25 Woe to you who are full,
For you shall hunger.
Woe to you who laugh now,
For you shall mourn and weep.
26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you,
For so did their fathers to the false prophets.
27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. 31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.
32 “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional Here
Some principles are the center around which other principles turn. They capture the truth in a succinct, and yet profound way. The “Golden Rule” is one of those principles – a commandment from Jesus that sets the golden standard of principles in relationship. This short commandment from Jesus defines what it means to love our neighbors as ourselves, and opens our motives and behaviors up to self-scrutiny.
Treating others in the same way that we would like them to treat us, is a Christian principle that is rooted in godly love, which is poured into our hearts from above – and God’s love never, ever fails. The instruction to treat others the way that we would like to be treated by them is the final directive to believers in a list, which requires us to love our enemies, to do good to those that hate us, and to bless those that curse us. Doing to others what we would want them to do for us, is embedded in Christ’s directive to refrain from retaliation, to give freely to others, and to pray for those who mistreat us and despitefully use us.
In a confused world where love has grown cold and consideration for others has morphed into cruel aggression, there is an increasing need for us to apply ‘The Golden Rule’ in our own lives. But it can only be manifested in the life of a believer through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Even when it seems like loving someone when he has been nice to you is impossible, it’s not as difficult when we realize that this is the way God loves us. We deserved hell, but we got grace. We do all kinds of things that are sinful all the time. Yet, God is full of mercy toward us.
When we really begin to focus on God’s goodness and His mercy toward us, it makes our response to others easier. If we really begin to understand how much God loves us, then, it makes loving others easy. We realize that we can love others because we’ve been given so much from God. As we apply ‘The Golden Rule’ to our lives, may our godly conduct help to draw many into a saving knowledge of Christ Jesus.
Reflections
- Do you maltreat people around you or does your presence give them hope?
Prayer
- Heavenly Father, teach me to love you and my neighbor, as I have loved myself.
Further Reading: Leviticus 25:1-24; Song of Sol 3:1-End; Ephesians 5:1–14
ESOCS Devotional 9 February 2026
