Golden Rule!

     For Saturday, January 31, 2026:

Hebrews 13:6 NLT: “We can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?’”

 "Do unto others as you would like them to do unto you.” The golden rule! At first glance, this seems like a nice reciprocal arrangement. If you’re nice to me, I’ll be nice to you, and vice versa.

But this is a little different. Not all humans respond in a positive manner, for a variety of reasons. But Christians should. If we treat others with kindness as Jesus told us to, God will respond positively. God loves believers so much that he planned our rescue even while we were sinning. His Son died so our sins would be forgiven. God is “all in” on mankind’s rescue project. We may or may not receive a thank you for our God-inspired behavior. Our best reward may be heaven-sent!

If you’re OK with your behavior and it fits with what God/Jesus commanded, then it really doesn’t matter what someone else thinks. Let the Lord be your helper. What can mere people do to you?

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Reciprocal Love!

For Sunday, June 1, 2025:

Luke 12:8-9 NLT, Jesus speaking: “I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels. But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God’s angels.”

The word “reciprocal” comes to mind. It’s what Jesus taught, what we call the Golden Rule: “Treat other people exactly as you would like to be treated by them.” (Matt. 7:12a)

When mankind comes before the judgment seat, Jesus will treat us as we have treated him. If we honor him and brag about him to our friends, he will do the same for us as we enter the Kingdom. If we are not connected to Jesus in this life, he won’t be connected to us in the next.

So we have a choice. Our earthly relationship with Jesus determines our heavenly path. How we treat Jesus now truly affects our eternal future.

This is truth – Jesus said so!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Philadelphia - Love for One's Fellows!

For Thursday, May 25, 2023:

1 John 4:7-8 NLT: “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

As Acts 2 ends, we learn that this new group of believers, ‘The Way,’ devoted themselves to fellowship. They shared possessions, took meals together and worshiped God together. This love for others, a principle first taught by Jesus, was being put into motion by the believers. Others liked what they saw and wanted to become a member too. They were baptized and brought into the fellowship.

To be clear, this love is not the unconditional love, like how God loves us. It’s reciprocal, treating others the way we’d like to be treated. This is not romantic or erotic love, but instead what the Bible calls ‘Brotherly Love.’ That includes ‘Sisterly Love’ too!

Christians should be nice people, friendly, helpful to one another and ready to serve. If group of believers, a church, isn’t welcoming and loving, something’s a little off.

Looking after our fellows should be as important as looking after ourselves.

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Golden Rule by Jesus!

For Sunday, February 12, 2023:

Matthew 7:12 NIV, Jesus speaking: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

There are 613 commands in scripture, things God said we are to do. Let’s be honest – few us us can remember 613 different things! Twice the scriptures give us what we now know as the 10 Commandments. Those are easier to remember!

Jesus simplified the Law even further, so that everyone can understand. We call this the Golden Rule. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” In other words, treat others the way you would like to be treated. Be a good person. Be kind and helpful, and others will treat you with kindness. And if you speak highly of your Father in heaven, he’ll think highly of you too!

Jesus uncomplicated the Law and streamlined it so that everyone could understand and remember the principles. I don’t know about you, but I have trouble recalling exact quotes. But I remember the concepts and can look them up in an instant! Jesus summarized the Law so that God’s people can more easily comply.

The Pharisees had memorized all the laws, but their mission became catching someone when they did something wrong – enforcing the Law. That’s not God’s intent. Memorizing the law isn’t nearly as important as putting those principles into our lives. That’s what Jesus said.

He made it easier for us to love the Lord!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Forgive Others!

For Sunday, January 29, 2023:

Matthew 6:12 NIV, Jesus continues teaching The Lord’s Prayer: “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

Your Bible may read, “Forgive us our trespasses...,” “Forgive our sins...,” or “Forgive us for the wrong things we have done…” Sin is pictured as a debt owed, and we need to square things up!

God arranged to forgive mankind when we sinned. In fact, he was quite intentional about it. He sent his Son Jesus to be the sacrifice for the sins of the world. Those who put their faith, hope and trust in God’s Son can confess their sin and be adopted as a chid of God, a resident of God’s forever heavenly Kingdom. God gave us a second chance at hope!

There is a condition to God’s benevolence. It’s kind of like the Golden Rule. God stands ready to forgive us after the same manner in which we forgive others. “Do unto others as you would have God do unto you,” is the message. It sounds simple, but this is quite serious. If you insist on harboring resentment against a fellow, God may harbor resentment against you, and that can have eternal ramifications.

We’re praying for God to treat us as we have treated others, so treat them well!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Mercy!

For Friday, January 13, 2023:

Matthew 5:7 NLT: “God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

Jesus taught: “Treat other people exactly as you would like to be treated by them—this is the essence of all true religion.” As children, we learned “Do unto others…” We call it the Golden Rule.

This Beatitude is similar. We do merciful, helpful things because it’s the right thing to do. We hope others would treat us that same way. Sometimes our reward comes from the person to whom we showed mercy; other times, not. Regardless, Christians are still known for showing mercy. Our focus is on doing the right thing, not on the reward!

Our ultimate merciful reward comes from the Lord. God’s mercy is being dispensed through his Son Jesus to all who repent, return and claim him as savior. Jesus personally went ahead to confirm our reservation in heaven. The merciful get to see heaven from the inside!

Heaven will be filled with merciful people!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship