One Standard!

If we each cut our own ruler (or other unit of measure) and began to build something together, things would not come together properly. We must both use the same standard measure (same units of inches, feet, yards, etc.) or things just would not fit. The same is true relative to life. The RIGHT STANDARD must be used.

Yesterday I was called upon to offer some clarification regarding the "teEn-MAIL" focus on "Forgiveness" (sent March 13, 2010) and was glad to have the opportunity to do so. In case others may also have misunderstood my intent in the use of a quotation, I have decided to share the major portion of my response as today's focus.

One thing I was asked was if there was a change in my own life following the sending of that e-mail. I am reminded of Paul's statement to some at Rome that reads, "you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself?" ( Romans 2:21a ESV) I always try to come away from my reading of God's Word a different person than I was before. As I read the passage from which I drew the focus on "Forgiveness" ( Luke 17:3-4) I was personally convicted by my own need to be more willing to forgive. It is not that I have not been forgiving of others, but felt I did not fully measure up to THE STANDARD OUR LORD IMPLIED. Therefore, I humbly came away from the passage with a greater resolve to continue in a willingness to forgive and keep on forgiving. In reality, I have no right to be frustrated, since I have my own great need of the forgiveness of God. It is in the recognition of how much I have been forgiven by God that I should always see how willingly I ought to forgive. In spite of feelings, forgiving others needs to continue being the choice I make. JESUS HAS SET THE STANDARD for us all to follow.

It appears the quotation I used toward the end of the focus -- that stated "Live up to the standard you expect of others." -- may have come across different than I intended. I firmly believe CHRIST MUST ALWAYS BE THE STANDARD for how we live. There is NO GREATER OR MORE PERFECT STANDARD than that. In my use of the quotation I was not implying others were to be looked to as "the standard". The quotation simply related to the unfortunate occurrence in this world where people seem to expect more from others than they are willing to follow through with themselves. It was merely a general statement.

Paul made it clear it is unwise to compare ourselves with one another when he wrote. . .
"(12) Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But WHEN THEY MEASURE THEMSELVES BY ONE ANOTHER AND COMPARE THEMSELVES WITH ONE ANOTHER, THEY ARE WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING." ( 2 Corinthians 10:12 ESV)

The King James Versions states those who do such "are not wise." Such a comparison is not a stable standard because we can probably always find someone who may appear worse than us and thus make us feel better about ourselves (which can keep us from growing as we ought) or find someone who appears more righteous than us and therefore make us feel quite awful about ourselves as if we have no hope. JESUS MUST REMAIN THE STANDARD. Again, the point of the quotation is that we don't always live up the standard we sometimes expect of others. When it comes to discerning the actions of others, Jesus noted that we would be measured by the measure we use with others.

We read. . .
"(1) Judge not, that you be not judged. (2) For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you." ( Matthew 7:1-2 ESV)

Jesus went on to point to the need of taking a closer look at ourselves in order to be better able to be of help to others. ( Matthew 7:3-5) We cannot be blind to the things that still need changing in our own life.

THE STANDARD needs to be JESUS AND THE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD that we use to compare others, as well as our own life. Though we should be mindful of the example we need to set for others, it is still the HIGHER STANDARD OF JESUS we need to ultimately direct the attention toward. That seems to be the very attitude exemplified in the life of Paul as he stated, "Be imitators of me, AS I AM OF CHRIST." ( 1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV)

Not aiming at the STANDARD OF JESUS is aiming too low. We must always be willing to wholeheartedly surrender to the Will of God. It is His continued work in us and for us that will make the difference. ( Philippians 2:13) Praise God for His willingness to do it.

Have a great day MEASURING LIFE BY CHRIST'S RULE!
Carl

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