Measure Up…
Simpler times are those years filled with lining children up to see how much they’ve grown. Each half inch (or more) duly noted with a date. Some years seemed like they were beanstalks, some were slower.
Then comes the more complicated years called being adults. Always wondering: “do I measure up”?
The world keeps changing the bar, the standard, the enough. I’m reminded of this when others don’t think you or I measure up: “…I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of My joy within them.” That joy doesn’t depend on a constantly changing enough – that full measure isn’t something to wish for, work for, wait for. It is ours now – in full, for always, and all the work is done.
Still, we are called to be ever watchful – not so we meet an unattainable bar, but so we don’t get tripped up. A dear friend shared such truth recently. She has lived in the same neighborhood thirty plus years and walks most of those days. She knows every crack in the sidewalk. Recently her shoe caught in a crack she had passed hundreds of times. Before she knew it her head hit the pavement. Trying to stand, she realized blood was trickling down her face.
A friend she was meeting saw her go down. There in an instant she helped her back home. Oh how it so easily happens to us. In our striving to measure up to someone or something we pass by our days so familiar and then the unexpected drops us down. Bloodied, we wonder why, how?
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1Peter 5:8 NIV) Not only that, this competitive world does too. More so, it’s just fallen humanity. We will be bloodied at times. But just before this verse is a dear one we can count on. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” (1Peter 5:6-7 NIV) Right there, to lift us when we fall.
Perhaps we need to turn the measuring into mercy. Knowing that we will all stumble and fall, none are perfect. Fortunately for you and for me – there is a Savior whose perfection is ours and who stands in for us so we always measure up. So much so that the perfection of eternity is ours.
Do you know this Savior, this Jesus? If you do, you have more riches than all the world’s combined. If you don’t, He’s near at hand, extending His hand, reach for it and when you stumble, He will lift you up. That’s a promise.
If you stopped by because you read my devotion today over at Encouragement Cafe, WELCOME! So glad you are here!
parisrenae 
“Perhaps we need to turn the measuring into mercy.” — Love that “sticky statement.” 🙂 And, “…a savior whose perfection is ours.” Love that, too. Such a great post. Thank you for sharing with #ChasingCommunity today. ((hug))
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You are a great encourager. May His mercy fill you to overflowing with the joy that He overflows into us.
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Such a beautiful reminder of who our God is. Thank you!
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Good morning, He is our mercy and in Him we do have the full measure of His joy. May you have much joy in the journey…
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