What measure are we using?

Luke 6:37-38

37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

We get hooked on the first part of vs. 37, the part about judging, instead of seeing the overall flow of the complete passage. Jesus is claiming that if we are harsh and judgmental of others, others will be harsh and judgmental towards us. But if we are generous and gracious, people will return that to us. My experience tells me this is true. Maybe not all the time, but enough of the time to make it a practice worth living by.

I think there are two other things that play here as well. First, if I look at people to find things to judge and condemn – if that is my view of the world. Then I am more likely to assume that everyone acts that way, being ready to judge and condemn. And then I start to hear in every comment – to see in every look judgement and condemnation. If, on the other hand, I seek to find places to offer forgiveness, places where I can give – then I am more likely to see the actions and words of others as being gracious and generous.

Second, the core promise here is that God sees and knows and blesses those who are giving and forgiving. God mirrors for us what our hearts are like. As in the Lord’s Prayer we ask to be forgiven by God in the same way that we forgive others. The invitation is to be gracious and generous, so that we can both receive and recognize the generosity and graciousness of God.  

PRAYER:

God of giving and forgiving, we bless you for the blessings you pour into our lives. Teach us to be people who imitate you, shape us that we might be people who are known as your children by the ways we also offer forgiveness and blessing. These things we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.