We just passed the noon mark of the day. Becki is preparing some lunch…then I’ll head out to do what I can with the installation of a parking garage structure for an RV trailer. Hopefully, the rain will hold off.
This devotional is another snatch from my 2012 archive file—but the main thoughts and ideas are certainly do not to obsolete or irrelevant in regards to where we are in time and culture. Please follow the advice given by Jesus in the first two words of the FOCUS VERSE—“Consider carefully…” I think that needs to apply to how we process EVERYTHING—not just what we hear. But, most definitely, hearing is of critical importance. After all, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). And in the same way, stupid largely comes by what we hear—that is, what and who we listen to. So, CONSIDER CAREFULLY WHAT YOU HEAR!
I have determined that I am 160.8 miles tall. You might say, “That’s ridiculous! How did you come up with a figure like that?” Well, it’s really quite simple. I’m looking at a map that shows the New Georgia Group of islands in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands where we used to live and navigate. The map includes a scale for calculating distances. I used that standard of measurement to calculate my height. If you don’t agree with my method of measuring, I suppose I could get reactionary and defensive and say, “Don’t hassle me. You use your measurement, and I’ll use mine. So there!”
I agree—this is ridiculous. But it’s no more so than the tricks people typically play in measuring their own lives, views, and values. They select a standard of measurement to their own liking, one that helps to make themselves look bigger and better than they really are when compared with the standard of TRUTH—God’s standard.
Jesus said, “Consider carefully what you hear (and choose to believe)…with the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.” I take that to mean that I had better be very careful how quickly I adopt the measuring standards that others promote—how I measure myself—what standard I use to measure truth and error—and how I determine right and wrong.
If I am 160.8 miles off in my calculations by standards of the truth, I may have to bear the real consequence of being 200 miles off course—or maybe a million miles off—or how about 100 billion miles off. Remember, Jesus said that you will receive “even more” from your selected standard of measurement than the actual measurement, whether it be right or wrong.
I think the important point for us to take away from this is that Jesus is implicitly helping us to measure time and stuff against the standard of eternity. So how is it even possible to measure eternity anyway? Just be very careful about the “measure you use.” Please don’t stop thinking about this.