Your measuring tools

When it comes to making the right judgments there is no one better at doing it then Jesus.  Here is an insight from the teaching of Jesus.  Luke 6:37-38 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged.  Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.  Forgive, and you will be forgiven.  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 key to understanding these verses is the last statement.  Therefore we must define measure.  The context here uses the word measure to define what is the standard that you are using to make your decisions and judgments.  There is much teaching on this topic in scripture so I will be brief.  In Romans 2 the apostle Paul asked some question "You who preach against stealing, do you steal" "You who say the people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery"  Unfortunately for many we use a different standard for other people then we do for ourselves.   The measure we use for ourselves is more lenient because we understand our situation but we can be very stern with others.  Jesus is saying in Luke 6 that we will be judged based upon the standard, the measure we use.  This also follows the Golden Rule which is we need to do for others what we would like them to do for us.  Now lets look at the three areas that Jesus talked about in Luke 6:37-38.  First, none of us like to be judged harshly or unfairly.  Jesus just tells us here not to judged and I believe it is referring to the judgment of the heart.  Even if the other person's behavior is not appropriate I am not their judge, Jesus is their Judge and I must leave that issue in the hands of Jesus.  I want others to believe the best about me therefore I must learn to believe the best about others.  Second, forgiveness is never earned but granted.  I mess up plently and want to be forgiven when I do.  The key is that I must first learn to grant forgiveness to others before I expect it myself.  Forgiving like Jesus forgave me is one of the basic characteristics of what it means to be a believer in Jesus.  Lord help us to practice forgiveness.  Third, everyone loves to receive gifts.  It is always fun to be on the receiving end of someone else's generosity.  What Jesus is saying that if that is what I want then I must first learn to be generous in all that I do.  Generosity is at the heartbeat of God and God wants us to develop the heartbeat of generosity.  Lord, help me to be more generous.  May God's hand of favor rest upon you as you learn to use the right measuring tools in dealing with other.  May God's strengthen you as you strive to please Him.