We Receive What We Give

‭‭Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭35‬-‭38,‬ ‭ESV‬‬

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.

For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

We often hear that verse quoted in the context of giving—and it most definitely is about giving—but it’s also about loving, doing good, being kind, showing mercy, not judging, forgiving, etc.

Wherever there is lack or struggle in our lives, what if we stopped and assessed our own behaviors and attitudes regarding that very thing?

For example, if we are facing lack, what if we assess our generosity?

If we feel like we’re constantly being judged, what if we ask ourselves how often we judge others?

If we feel like we’re never shown mercy, what if we ask ourselves how likely we are to show mercy to others?

Do we love others? Do we purposefully do good to others? Do we lend freely? Are we kind to others? Do we harbor resentment? Are we quick to judge and condemn? Are we quick to forgive? Do we give of our time and our money?

With the measure we use, it will be measured back to us. 

Oh Lord, thank you for your promises. Please help us to be quicker to assess our own ways, and teach us to be more like you. Amen.