Do The Right Thing
S. O. A. P.
Here’s Your 90 second AM Devotional!
S-cripture:
Deuteronomy 22:1
If you see your fellow Israelite’s ox or sheep straying, do not ignore it but be sure to take it back to its owner.
O-bservation:
This particular decree from the Lord to the people of Israel, was simply an application of the golden rule, as mentioned in Leviticus 19:18. Moses had stated that they were to love their neighbor as they loved themselves. Later Jesus said, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Matthew 7:12).
A-pplication:
If you lost something that was dear to you or that you needed for your self-preservation and someone had found it, wouldn’t your desire be for them to give it back to you? In this case, the neighbor had found a lost sheep that belonged to someone else. Moses said that if that was to happen, give it back to them. If they lived too far away, keep the animal until the neighbor came looking for it, and then give it back. This is common courtesy by people who live in community with each other. Today, as a nation, we’ve moved so far away from common courtesy that we actually have “pawn shops” where people take something they own and trade it for an agreed-upon amount of money. When the original owner brings the money back, the pawn dealer gives them the item they pawned back. Now that’s okay, but pawn shops are also known for taking in stolen items, and so the thief can make a quick illegal buck as the same transaction occurs. Here’s the deal, I don’t want to get into a huge discourse here, because the power of this passage of scripture to all of us is “Do The Right Thing.”
P-rayer:
Dear Jesus,
This AM, I’m in need of Your help. More than anything, I need to “Do The Right Thing” when it comes to my interaction with people. Help me follow through with the Golden Rule. Amen
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