A simple guide for behaviour-Lessons from The Master ( Matthew 7)

It is hard to better these instructive words taken from the Master himself on how to live our lives! In the Message version as in other translations they 'cut us to the heart'.So often,at least regarding myself, I would often buy and read lots of books ever looking for that supreme or highest truth which would bring me enlightenment, when it is there, sitting in front of me, on the table or in my bookself,in many translations-Scripture itself and the words of Christ in the gospels in particular!How profound and liberating they are. But oh, how so easy it is to read the words but so very hard to obey. Then we are only able to cry out to God for help in order to become doers of His word and not hearers only!AK

"Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, 'Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.
"Don't be flip with the sacred. Banter and silliness give no honor to God. Don't reduce holy mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you're only being cute and inviting sacrilege.

"Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn't a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing. You're at least decent to your own children. So don't you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?

"Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God's Law and Prophets and this is what you get.