URC Daily Devotion 17 November 2025
17 November 2025
St Matthew 7: 12
‘In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.’
Reflection
Some years ago I was asked to be the URC representative at the opening of a new green burial ground. A group of us, from a variety of different traditions reflecting the demography of the area, participated in an interfaith ceremony. We chatted together afterwards. The Humanist dominated the early conversation. He began by telling us that Humanism was the only possible way to approach society because it taught that you should treat others as you would like them to treat you. Do as you would be done by. It soon became apparent that this young man had had little exposure to faith communities, or world religions. One by one we explained to him that our faith tradition taught pretty much exactly the same thing as his Humanist philosophy. He was clearly astonished by what he heard.
In our verse today we hear Jesus expounding precisely this position and way of being. It is one of the fundamental patterns for a Christian way of life, because for us it comes not just from a humanitarian perspective, but as a pattern for fleshing out the love of God.
Jesus explains that in propounding this to the people he is encouraging them to follow the teachings found in the Hebrew Scriptures. For Matthew that was of great significance; Jesus was building on what had gone before. For us as Christians it is also about putting into practice the model of living that Jesus set by example; a way of being that makes real the love and forgiveness which are at the heart of God’s gifts to us, and which are foundational for building the Kingdom of God.
Yet I wonder if this teaching is so familiar we can get almost blasé about it.
Maybe our challenge is, ‘In everything . . .’!
Prayer
God of the law and the prophets;
God alive in Christ;
God empowering through the Holy Spirit;
guide us in everything we do and are
to follow your way of living,
for the good of others
and the building of your Kingdom.
Amen.
‘In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.’
Reflection
Some years ago I was asked to be the URC representative at the opening of a new green burial ground. A group of us, from a variety of different traditions reflecting the demography of the area, participated in an interfaith ceremony. We chatted together afterwards. The Humanist dominated the early conversation. He began by telling us that Humanism was the only possible way to approach society because it taught that you should treat others as you would like them to treat you. Do as you would be done by. It soon became apparent that this young man had had little exposure to faith communities, or world religions. One by one we explained to him that our faith tradition taught pretty much exactly the same thing as his Humanist philosophy. He was clearly astonished by what he heard.
In our verse today we hear Jesus expounding precisely this position and way of being. It is one of the fundamental patterns for a Christian way of life, because for us it comes not just from a humanitarian perspective, but as a pattern for fleshing out the love of God.
Jesus explains that in propounding this to the people he is encouraging them to follow the teachings found in the Hebrew Scriptures. For Matthew that was of great significance; Jesus was building on what had gone before. For us as Christians it is also about putting into practice the model of living that Jesus set by example; a way of being that makes real the love and forgiveness which are at the heart of God’s gifts to us, and which are foundational for building the Kingdom of God.
Yet I wonder if this teaching is so familiar we can get almost blasé about it.
Maybe our challenge is, ‘In everything . . .’!
Prayer
God of the law and the prophets;
God alive in Christ;
God empowering through the Holy Spirit;
guide us in everything we do and are
to follow your way of living,
for the good of others
and the building of your Kingdom.
Amen.