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The Law and the Prophets

 
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As children we were taught the Golden Rule, that we should treat others the way we would want to be treated. This is an effective tool to help youngsters understand basic reciprocity in relationships at a time when they still haven’t developed the ability to fully empathize with others. But the Golden Rule is actually a soft form of the spiritual law that we should do unto others what we would have done unto us.
 

“Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets“(Matthew 7:12).

 
Playing nice with classmates on the playground and gaining a group of friends might be the intended goal of many parents and teachers who teach the Golden Rule but it would be difficult for children to understand the point of being kind if they are not receiving immediate positive results. Adults also struggle with being loving to others when their expected return on investment isn’t fully realized in a timeline they find appropriate. Many Christians get frustrated with God for not “keeping up His end of the bargain” and feel as doing God’s Will isn’t worth their time or effort.
 
They are confusing this spiritual law with giving to receive which is expressed in the Latin phrase “do ut des” (I give that you might give). This formula was a key aspect of the Roman religious’ system that you must offer sacrifices to receive favor from the gods. Still maturing Christians mistakenly believe that by reciting specific prayers, giving offerings, and practicing Biblical disciplines that God will give them “the desires of their heart”.
 

“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass” (Psalms 37:4-5).

 
We must recognize that we are not in a position to try to coerce God by some kind of implied contract we have created in our minds. If we doing something we think will win God’s favor, He is not obliged to fulfill what we want Him to do. We can cry out that He isn’t being fair, but this ignores the undeserved Grace of forgiveness of our sins. He extends this Love to us as “children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked…as our Father is merciful (ref. Luke 6: 30, 31)”.
 
Another aspect of this spiritual law that is difficult for us comprehend is waiting for deserved justice or rewards to come our way. Even when God has promised us blessings or positions, they will not be following our timeline or the path we want. As a young man, David was anointed by the Prophet Samuel to be the future king of Israel. There were many instances in David’s life where he had serious reasons to doubt that he would ever survive long enough to be crowned king. Reigning King Saul, not only stood in David’s way of being crowned king but was also a threat to his life, having attempted to murder him on multiple occasions.
 
David could hardly be blamed for wanting to help his destiny to move along, carry out God’s Justice, or to try to literally “war over his prophecy” to help it come to pass by repaying Saul with the same evil violence he had shown David. But, when given two separate opportunities to assassinate Saul, David chose to instead cut off a part of Saul’s cloak at the Cave of Adullam and then to take Saul’s spear and water jug in the wilderness of Ziph as evidence that he’d had the opportunity to kill Saul but had spared him instead. Saul was his tormentor yet David still “loved his enemy, did good to those who hated him, blessed those who cursed him and prayed for those who mistreated him” when it was hardest.
 
That was the core of Christ’s ministry on Earth. When asked what the greatest commandment was, He replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind,” but also explained that the second is to “Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (ref. Matt 22: 36-40). Because God loved us beyond our comprehension, we must strive to love Him in return with every aspect of our being. But this love must be expressed towards others as well. Just as He has forgiven us our sins we must extend this Love and Forgiveness towards our neighbors and especially our brothers and sisters in Christ.
 
Today’s society has twisted this rule to say: “Do unto other’s before they do it to you.” Believers, do not be discouraged for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to STAND! (ref. Ephesians 6:12-13)
 

Message by Kent Simpson, Apostolic Prophet & Eric Sepulveda, PMT Administrator

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