Day 10
Do Unto Others – Peter’s Mother-In-Law
by Ann White
How do you share God’s love with others? Today’s devotional will challenge you to treat others as you would like to be treated. The story of Peter’s mother-in-law offers inspiration to honor God in your relationships.
“After leaving the synagogue that day, Jesus went to Simon’s home, where he found Simon’s mother-in-law very sick with a high fever. “Please heal her,” everyone begged. Standing at her bedside, he rebuked the fever, and it left her. And she got up at once and prepared a meal for them.” (Luke 4:38–39).
Pray: Lord, let nothing separate me from you and your Word today. Help me uncover truth and live according to your commands.
Observe: How many times growing up did you hear, “Do to others what you would have them do to you?” (Matthew 7:12 NIV). Likely more than you can count. Yet, how often did you sincerely stop to think about how your actions impacted the people around you?
Consider this scenario: When chatting with a friend, who is sometimes taken advantage of, she questions why this happens to her. She asks, “Am I doing something wrong? Do they just not care? Or could it be they simply don’t realize how their actions make me feel?”
We’ve all been on both sides of this equation, more often than we likely care to admit. Do you “do to others as you would have them do to you?” God doesn’t ask us to be doormats but he does expect us to love—in both actions and words.
We must strive to treat others in ways that honor God and represent our devotion to him.
Only a few verses in the Bible describe Peter’s mother-in-law, but it’s obvious she loved others well and was deeply loved by many. Luke describes her notoriety in that, “everyone begged” for her to be healed and we clearly see her love displayed by her immediate response in preparing a meal once she was healed.
Courageously do unto others by implementing the following steps:
- Ask others how you can pray for them and spend time praying over their requests.
- Let someone know you care by making a call or visit, or by preparing that person a meal.
- Ask forgiveness from those you’ve hurt or offended.
- Look for opportunities to perform random acts of kindness.
Interpret: The ways others speak of us often reveals the ways we’ve treated or mistreated them. God expects us to express our love for others in both words and actions.
Apply: Think of someone you feel you have mistreated and reach out to that person today with an apology and an act of kindness.
Pray: Father, you are the perfect example of love and faithfulness. Through the perfect love of Christ, you extend your mercy and grace. God give me eyes to see clearly how I regard others and help me care for them in ways that honor you.