A Good Measure

Oh Father, this morning. This morning please stop the roiling in our spirits. That you might cause the frantic thoughts of lists and to-do’s to subside long enough for us to hear you this morning. I ask that you hush the litany of “I’m never going to get these things done today” thoughts.

Father, we are such people of accomplishment. We want productivity, even if it bears little fruit. We want lists with items crossed out, because then it seems our day has not been wasted. We have proof we have not been lazy or idle.

But we cannot measure our lives in this manner. Life with you is not a to-do list. It is not an existence of get this done, get that done.

Lives lived in you focus on giving. Giving you glory. Giving you praise. Giving kind words to someone. Giving time to someone lonely. Giving encouragement to someone struggling. Giving direction to someone lost. Giving hope to someone in despair. To do lists rarely contain these things.

This morning I read Jesus’ words.

Father, your Son said that if we give, it will be given to us. He did not say if we finish our lists. Or accomplish our tasks.

You said if we give it will be given to us. But it is the description that got to me this morning, Father. You said if we give then a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be poured into our lap.

This morning help us to begin not with a to-do list. Instead help us to begin with a good measure. Father, help us to reach in our drawer and pull out the most generous measure we can find, and show us where to give it. Show us on whom you want us to pour this measure. Help us to pour lavishly. Lead us to pour intentionally. Your word says this very measure will be measured back to us. Oh, that we might be generous.

Today, help us to understand that you gave us a good measure, but then you pressed it down. It seems to me that you took your great big hand and pressed even that good measure down. Pressed it down like brown sugar. Then you shook it together, tapped it on the counter, filling in the gaps. And then you put even more in until this measure ran over.

What kind of grace and love is this?

Help us today to measure like you.

Amen