One of my professors, Dr. Harold Bryson, at Mississippi College used to say that Jesus isn’t hard to understand.  He’s just hard to follow.

He was telling us that the things that Jesus calls us to do are not complicated.  They are just hard to do.  It’s not complicated to love your enemies.  It’s not complicated to forgive those that hurt you. It’s not to hunger and thirst for righteousness.

They are just hard to do.

This week as we continue to reflect upon verses that deal with our love for our neighbor, listen to what Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:12:

“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.

Ah, the golden rule.  He even says, this is the essence of all that’s taught in the Old Testament (the law and prophets).  This rule actually sums it up for us. It actually makes it easier for us.  It simplifies it for us.  It’s not complicated.

It’s so easy to understand, we can very easily teach it to our children. And it makes sense.  We know its good for us to live by the golden rule.  We know it simplifies things. We know that in doing that, we living life that’s going to be more peaceful, more productive, and better for us all.

We know this.

But, it can still be hard. There are just some folks we don’t want to be nice to.  Some folks that don’t deserve our niceness. Some folks that it’s hard to “do unto others” to.

Because we know they won’t do the same to us.  We know they aren’t going to respond to our offer of grace with grace.

But, here’s the catch. We aren’t called to live their life. We are called to live our lives.  No matter how “they” choose to respond, we must offer grace. Because that’s what God wants us to do. And it’s the way we find peace in our lives.

In the end, it’s not even about “them.”  It’s about “us.” And in offering “them” grace, we find peace.

So, today, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. It’s not complicated.  it’s just hard.  But, God will give us the grace to do it. And in it, we will find His life for us.