Measuring

“For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38b)

We have a modern day proverb that says, “What goes around comes around.” We generally use this when we want to warn someone about how their actions might come back to haunt them later on. There is some similarity between that thought and what Jesus said, “For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Jesus stated this principle with two negatives and two positives: judging others, condemning others, forgiving others, and giving to others. The idea is that if you judge others, whatever criteria you use for judging them will be applied to you. Whatever criteria you use to condemn others will be applied to you. Also, if you forgive others, you will be forgiven by that criteria, and to the degree that you give, actually much more will be given to you.

The point Jesus makes here is that it is better not to judge or condemn others at all and focus instead on bringing your own life into greater submission to the life God has called you to. To the degree we do that, we then have a clearer perspective of how God relates to all of us.

Lord, Help us today to remain focused on bringing our lives into conforming with Your will. Amen.