19 September | EVERYONE
"Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6: 36-38
Life is a mirror. It gives you back the image you project. If you want a smile, smile, and the mirror will smile back. But if you raise your hand threateningly, the image reflected in the mirror will be the same. If you pass a person on the street and greet them, they will greet you too; but if you pass indifferently, you will receive indifference.
This is the essence of today's text. You are the measure of the blessings you receive. Never expect more than you are willing to offer. "Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over." You receive in proportion to what you give. It is a law of life. And it is not just about the good stuff, it is also about the negative. "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned."
Jesus' teachings and warnings were not just rules of a self-righteous moralism. They went to the depths of life, to the roots of being, to the motivations of the soul. That is why the Lord said to be merciful like our Heavenly Father. Only when we live a life of daily and constant communion with God will we be able to forgive those who offend us, not to condemn at the first impulse, and not to judge by what we see. Only by living with Jesus in every moment will we be a source of blessing to people.
Take Action
You have two paths before you. Expect people to make you happy or make them happy. If you choose the latter, you will be amazed at the results. Endless blessings will fall into your bosom, for "with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." Sing "The Same Measure" (if possible, with your family).