Reflections from the lives of others

One of the things I know, after working with and caring for people all these years, is that we get what we give. What I mean by that is this- you can tell, for the most part, how you are treating people by the way they respond to you. They reflect back to you the way they feel you are treating them. Here's how Jesus described this-

Luke 6:36-38 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

In other words what you pour out into the lives of others will be poured back into your life. I really believe this is a spiritual reality that Jesus is revealing to us that most of us simply don't understand or ignore. Here's what it looks like- Do you want people to care about you? Care about them first. You will be amazed at how others suddenly are reaching out to you with care for you. Do you want to be loved? Love others first and, as Jesus said, it will be poured back into your life "good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over." What do you most need from others in your life? Here's the secret of how to get it- give it to others first and the bounty that will come back to you will more than meet your need and will give you extra to give away to others. This is the way God treats us....he loved us first, he cared for us first, he reached out to us when we were his enemies and now he has a host of people all over the world who are madly in love with him. He showed us a very important truth that will change your life- what you give is what you will get. Did you see those last words of verse 38? "For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Here is the other side of that to help you understand where you are now- how are people treating you right now? How do you feel you are perceived by others right now? That's exactly how they think they are being treated by you! If you want a different result in your life you will have to treat people differently first. Imagine how our lives would change if we really understood this? That world where this is reality is called heaven....