Is it possible that you could be fooling yourself about your relationship with God?

by Rev. Jack Richards on January 17, 2022

SEARCHLIGHT

Is it possible that you could be fooling yourself about your relationship with God?

 

SCRIPTURE

“Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight, or quantity. Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest Ephah, and an honest Hin. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt.”  Leviticus 19:35-36

 

SPOTLIGHT

I remember reading a story about a high school student who tried to use a thermometer to measure a table. His teacher was dumbfounded as he realized that in his 15 years of experience, he had never seen anything this shocking. The teacher was amazed that the student had made it to high school without knowing the difference between a ruler and a thermometer.

How well do you measure things? Are you accurate and honest? The Scripture text, printed above, is a challenge to be very honest when measuring anything. God takes this very seriously. He wants you to be precise and accurate.  Every day you measure things. You use a ruler or tape measure to determine length, height, width, and depth. For food measurements, you use a measuring cup, pounds, and ounces but for today’s temperature along with personal health and cooking, you use a thermometer. Hands are used to measure a horse’s height. In a vehicle, a speedometer is used to determine speed, but an odometer is used to measure distance. For liquids, you use gallon, quart, ounce, cup, and teaspoon or tablespoon. Have you ever “fudged” when telling how fast you were driving? Are you honest when you measure things?

When it comes to growth, how well do you measure? Academic growth is measured by tests, exams, projects, and grades. Intellectual and emotional growth are often linked to decision-making. Physical growth is determined by height and weight. Do you truthfully report your weight to yourself in order to be healthy? 

What about spiritual growth? Are you spiritually maturing? How accurate are you in determining whether you are more than an infant on spiritual milk? 1 Peter 2:1-3 states, “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”  Are you growing in your faith?

“Therefore, let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity,” [Hebrews 6:1a]  

HOW DO YOU MEASURE YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH?  Your measurement stick should be Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul instructed the Ephesian Christians on how to determine if they were spiritually growing. “Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ then we will no longer be infants, tossed back-and-forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.” [Ephesians 4:13,14]  Are you enjoying the times you spend with Jesus in prayer rather than falling asleep like the disciples? Are you becoming more confident in what you believe to the point that you feel compelled to share the Good News? Your likeness to Jesus Christ is how you measure your spiritual growth. Jesus said, “Follow me.”  He is your Savior, Lord, Servant, Friend, Healer, Baptizer, and soon-coming King. Are you like Him? Do you remind people of Jesus? 

Believers often misuse measurements when deciding who is spiritually growing. They look at how much money someone gives, how involved someone is in church activities, how long a person prays, or how many Scripture verses he or she can quote. None of these are true measurements of spiritual growth because Jesus said the Greatest Commandment must be used. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” [Mark 12:30,31] Measuring your spiritual growth will require you to measure the love you have in your heart, soul, mind, and strength for Jesus. 

 

SOMETHING TO DO

When you love Jesus, you will become like Jesus. There are 3 passages of Scripture that will help you measure your love for Jesus.   In each one of the passages, the character of Jesus Christ is very apparent.  His life on earth illustrates all the qualities mentioned. Over the next 3 days, try measuring your spiritual growth by taking some time to read each Scripture passage. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you which qualities you should develop at this time. 

Day 1- Read the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12 

Day 2- Read about the Greatest Gift in 1Corinthians 13:4-8a

Day 3- Read about the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-25

 

SOUL TIME PRAYER

Heavenly Father, I want to become more like Your Son, Jesus. Sometimes I fool myself by the way I measure my spiritual growth. Forgive me for feeling self-righteous because I spent 5 hours at church this week. Convict me when I am measuring the wrong way. Build into my life the qualities I have studied in the 3 passages. Keep me honest. AMEN!  

Tags: old testament, lord, honesty, accuracy, measuring, scales and weights


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