The Measure

Tuesday, May 31, 2022

Each Day Begins

With God

Having Filled Us

According to

The Measure of Christ.

Psalm 106:4

Remember me, O Lord, when you show favour to your people; help me when you deliver them.

Ephesians 4:7

Each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

Words of Grace For Today

Our hope is always that today, yes finally today, we will be saved, at least me and mine. God teaches us patience through life as we suffer, pray for deliverance, and the suffering continues and increases, until in old age we are more than ready to give up the mortal frame and the suffering that goes with it, to go home where there is no more crying, weeping, death, and suffering.

Until we reach that point we learn to endure.

We learn to pray, if Lord you do not save me today, at least Remember me, O Lord, when you show favour to your people; help me when you deliver them.

We learn to trust that we are given what we need to make it through this day. The suffering may go on, and there is nothing we can do about it. We can learn to live the days we have, grateful for all God gives us. The measure we receive is not exactly what we want (thank God, or it would sink us from all consideration that we might need God, yet alone need to be thankful for life and all that is in it!) The measure we receive is given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

That measure is simple: what does God need to give us so that we will share all we have and are with those who are truly poor and needy.

Ah, that measure.

The measure of self-sacrificial love, not just for the people we think are good, but for the people that are truly evil.

Yes, that measure.

Simple. And so difficult to embrace. Impossible to embrace if we do not first know to be grateful in all things for everything God gives us.

So we pray, teach us, God, to be thankful, and prodigiously generous and gracious with all people.

That’s a full day for any of us.

For that God gives us the full measure, 24 hours, until our last day. For now, we give thanks, and move into the day.