Character Luke 6:27-38; Matthew 7:1-2

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!!!

   What happens to us all?  Life gets in the way and we become consumed with what is in the world around us; what is happening to us in this world; then many times forget that GOD IS IN CONTROL!

   You have heard Luke 6:38 numerous times, " Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”

    Often we take this as if we do something then we will be rewarded more. But wait, this whole verse reflects back to verse 27 and talks about how we should treat others.  First, verse 38 - if I give to you, expecting my blessings to be more - am I truly giving in the attitude of what God wants me to?  Not only no, but NO!

   As you read the verses above in Luke, you will find we are being told how we should relate to others, the basis of our character.  Verse 31 should slap many of us in the face:   " And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise".  Or NIV " ³¹ Do to others as you would have them do to you".

   In Matthew 7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ² For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you".

  In the King James version it says "mete" rather than measure. So what you deal out, how you treat others will return home to you.  To some this is OKAY, to others it is scary when they reflect on how they have treated others.

  Now the Bible is not a "tool" to be used indiscriminately as we choose. It is the Word of GOD, meaning this is God speaking to you, to me, to the whole world. Again, not a tool, but your Heavenly Father speaking directly to you.

  In doing so, HE is telling us how to treat others, fairly, humbly, with open heart and expecting no gain.  DO YOU??

    We are called to walk in love and forgiveness and leave judgment to God. In Luke 6:²⁷ But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,²⁸ Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

  In the following scriptures down to 38 basically it tells us that it is easy to love those who love us just as sinners love those who love them. (you can discuss "sinners" that we are sinners, but read the verse and argue with God).  So this is saying if I loan to you, my brother/sister in Christ I expect to be repaid; the people outside of Christ (sinners) expect the same as well.

   To what gain does this do you, me?  Believers are to increase by diligently applying themselves to what God has them to do in life. Then, the blessings will pour in.  Well, please take time to shuffle through, decipher the afore mentioned scriptures and let them rest upon your heart.  May your day be pressed down, shaken together, and running over.  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny