Nougat 15

As a child, we often try to see how far we’ve grown, and use a growth chart to assess where we are. In cooking, most of us use recipes that offer precise quantities for each ingredient, and directions on how to combine them. When we get paid, or receive an allowance, we usually take stock of bills or other compulsory items before planning our spending. In a sense, each activity mentioned rewrites a form of measurement. We might not refer to it in so many words, but values are selected as standards and whatever we do is checked against the standard.

Thus, in measuring growth, there’s reference to inches, feet, centimeters and meters. Likewise, we have teaspoons, tablespoons, cups, ounces, liters, etc., for cooking. And we calculate our income in dollars, pounds, euros, kwachas, francs, or whichever standard currency exists in our world. Do we realize that there is a measurement for our comments and thoughts? Consider Today’s Holy Nougat

Luke 6:38 NIV

[38] Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

The Measure We Use

In the examples mentioned for the introduction to our Nougat, there was need to be somewhat careful with our measurements. For, inasmuch as too much or too little of an ingredient, one’s growth pattern demonstrated whether we met our developmental targets as children, and poor management of the amount of funds allotted from our income could result in bankruptcy. Likewise, as we speak, actually before we speak, there is need to measure our words carefully against God’s standard. (Yes, God has a standard for thoughts, words and actions that apply across the board for everyone.)

We think of God’s admonition to the Israelites who were busy trying to measure up with the religious observances. Isaiah tells us that God wasn’t impressed by rituals without action. He quoted God saying, ‘… this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. ‭‭(see Isaiah‬ ‭58‬:‭6‬-‭7‬) That’s one standard right there.

How do we measure up?

As it relates to our thought patterns, we are told to use Love as the standard. According to Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬, by focusing on the things which are “true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable … excellent and praiseworthy.”, we minimize scope for arguments and maximize our witness to others of God’s presence and influence in our lives.

Again, how do we measure up?

You see siblings, our Nougat says that the measure we use to measure others will be used to measure us. So if our measure is faulty – i.e., our standards don’t align with God’s standards – we truly shouldn’t expect God’s grace to be extended to us. For then we’re insisting that God practices partiality by rewarding offense with extra blessings. Isn’t it enough that God allowed rain to fall on the just and unjust?

Don’t mishear me, God has already determined good for every single one of us – in this life and for eternity. But, the good wages prepared for us – eternal life in Christ Jesus (as per Romans 6:23 & John 14:3) – are determined by how we measure up to God’s standards. And that is influenced by our choice for thoughts, prayer, and actions. And no one can actually make those decisions for us.

So what shall we do? Do we appropriate the behavior of the debtor in the parable, finding ourselves thrown in prison because of our churlishness, even after we’d been forgiven? I’ve thought about it as I’m typing, and I’ve decided that while we might explore Matthew 18 to learn about forgiveness, that’s not the life for me.

Perhaps instead we might choose to let God reorient our thought lives … reflecting on and speaking according to what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable … excellent and praiseworthy.

*That’s how we ought to measure up*.

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May all we seek be found in Christ