OUR DAILY BREAD SUNDAY 16TH FEBRUARY 2025 ODB MESSAGE
Our Daily Bread Sunday 16th February 2025 TOPIC: Reflecting God’s Mercy
BIBLE IN YEAR: Leviticus 19-20; Matthew 27:51-66
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KEY VERSE: So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Matthew 7:7-12
TODAY’S INSIGHT
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) wasn’t His first public address. Matthew 4:13-17 tells us that His teaching ministry had already begun: “Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum . . . . From that time on Jesus began to preach.” The Sermon on the Mount, however, was His first recorded public message. He shares what life in His kingdom looks like—in sharp contrast to the kingdoms of this world.
The Beatitudes (5:3-10) show that His kingdom values people and things differently than the surrounding cultures. It describes how we’re to impact the world around us and relates to issues of the heart (as opposed to the letter) of the law. It even calls His kingdom citizens to love their enemies. Life in His kingdom is characterized by care for the poor, prayer that rests in God’s good will, and a trust in the Father that precludes the need for worry. A very different kind of kingdom indeed!
Our Daily Bread Sunday 16th February 2025 – ODB MESSAGE
A Finnish soldier in the three-month Winter War with Russia (1939-1940) lay wounded on the battlefield. A Russian soldier walked his way, pointing his rifle. The Finn was certain he’d met his end. However, the Russian handed him a medic kit, then kept moving. Remarkably, the Finn later found himself in a similar situation, only the roles were reversed—a Russian soldier lay wounded and helpless on the battlefield. The Finn handed him medical supplies and walked on.
Jesus gave us a central, guiding principle for our lives: “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12). Can you imagine how different our world would be if believers kept this one simple principle? Can we calculate how much oppression would end if we collectively obeyed Jesus’ wisdom? If only, as He guides us, we would give others the same compassion and mercy we’d hope to receive ourselves. As we “give good gifts” to others, we reflect the heart of our “Father in heaven [who gives] good gifts to those” He loves (v. 11).
It’s vital that we see others as not merely enemies or strangers or people with whom we compete for resources or opportunities. Instead, we should see their need for mercy and kindness just as we need it. And as we do, our posture and perspective will change. Then, as God provides, we can freely offer them the love He’s freely offered to us.
REFLECT: Why is it vital to treat others the way you’d like to be treated? How can Jesus help you?
PRAY: Dear God, please help me reflect Your mercy and love in how I treat others.
Our Daily Bread Ministries (ODB) is a Christian organization founded by Dr. Martin De Haan in 1938. It is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with over 600 employees. It produces several devotional publications, including Our Daily Bread. our daily bread devotional for today audio our daily bread booklet
