Hey there friends, welcome to Carpooling with Jesus. I'm Pastor Justin, and maybe you're in the car on the way to school, sitting at the breakfast table, or working on some homeschool lessons. We're so glad you're here. This podcast is all about turning everyday moments into faith filled moments. And I'm so glad you're here today. We've got an awesome lesson that will help you treat others the way Jesus wants you to. Ready? Let's get started. Our verse from today comes from Matthew chapter seven, verse 12. And it says, so in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the law and the prophets. This is sometimes called the golden rule, because it's one of the most important things Jesus teaches us about how to treat other people. Now we've talked about the golden rule before on Carpooling with Jesus, and it's always good to have a reminder. So let's talk again about what it really means. This verse comes from a part of the Bible where Jesus was teaching people about how to live the way God wants. In Matthew seven, he's helping them understand that it's not just about following rules, but about loving others and treating them kindly. Jesus said that in everything we do, we should treat others the way we want to be treated. So if you want your friends to be kind to you, you should be kind to them. If you want people to share with you, you should probably share with them. It's all about showing others the love and respect that you would want to receive. And guess what? When you live this way, we're showing God's love to the world around us. If Jesus were here right now, he'd probably say something like, I know sometimes it's easier to get upset when someone isn't nice to you, but remember, you can make a big difference by choosing to be kind to others. And if you want people to listen to you, be a good listener to them. Remember, you can change the world one step at a time. And remember, your world, it's the people in your neighborhood, those you live with at home. It's even the people in your classroom whose desks are near yours. That is your world. When you treat others the way you want to be treated, you are doing exactly what Jesus taught us to do. When you're kind, you're showing the world what his love looks like. Let me tell you a quick story about Emily and Zoe. One day at lunch, Emily noticed her friend Zoe sitting alone, looking sad because she had forgotten her lunch. Emily remembered something she learned at church: treat others the way you want to be treated. So Emily walked over and said, hey, Zoe. Want to share my lunch with me? Zoe's face lit up. Really? She asked. Emily smiled and nodded, and the two of them shared lunch, laughed, and had a great time. By treating Zoe the way she wanted to be treated, Emily made her feel loved and included. And in doing so, she made the whole day brighter for both of them. So remember the golden rule, while you're outside playing with your friends, while you're at home with your family. Treat others the way you want to be treated. If you want kindness, be kind. If you want friends, be friendly. When you live this way, you're showing God's love to everyone around you. Let's wrap up today with our short Friday prayer. God, thank you for this week. Help us finish today strong and bless our weekend with joy and rest. Amen. Remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. And parents, share this podcast with some of your parent friends this weekend so next week they can have faith filled conversations too. Answer this question before you go. Who is someone today that I can be kind to, just like I would want them to be kind to me? Thanks for hanging out with us this week. We'll see you next week on Carpooling with Jesus.
