Be Nice, It’s Free. Matthew 7:12 “Therefore all thing whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”
“Just Be Nice” has been seen as a bumper sticker and on t-shirts. The sentiment most probably strikes a cord with all who read it, because it is easier for us to NOT be nice. It’s easier to be critical or insensitive or judgmental. If we are to be obedient to God’s laws and the words He gave to the prophets, if we are to do to others what we want them to do to us-we need to “just be nice.”
Jesus told us in John 13:34-35 to “love one another” – “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another”, and of course we try our best. Some of us may have to start loving others by just trying to be nice. Without God’s Holy Spirit living within us, our sin nature takes charge and it is anything but nice. We find fault, we think mean thoughts, we keep track of wrongs, etc.
Guess what is totally free? Being nice to others! Sometimes it’s too late to make things right. Sometimes we hurt others more than we realize. Sometimes a smile fades in front of our eyes, and sometimes we are the reason for tears in someone’s eyes. Never treat anyone the way you don’t want to be treated.
When we allow the Holy Spirit to change our nature to one that is “nice”-one that is sensitive to others’ needs, appreciates differences in personality and talents, and one that encourages and motivates others, the Lord will give us the words, a smile, an expression of love that will make our world a nicer place for each of us to live-and share the gospel of salvation and eternal life.
