Oh, Yes, God Has Prepared a Better Tomorrow!

“Give, and it will be given to you.  They will pour into your lap a good measure – pressed down, shaken together, and running over.  For by your standard of measure it will, be measured to you in return.” (Luke 6:38).

Hey Gang:  Read that verse again.  Notice, Luke uses the word ‘measure’ three times.

The Living Bible reads “For if you give, you will get.  Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over.  Whatever measure you use to give – large or small – will be used to measure what is given back to you”.   Does that word ‘measure” stick out in bold print in your Bible?

My daddy was a coal miner, bus driver and custodian in a school, none of which provided adequate retirement to live on comfortably.  During those years when inflation was running rampant, I was concerned and called my Mom and asked, “Do you need anything?”  Her answer has been engrained in my heart and mind since, “No, we just tithe more!”  They were stanch believers in God’s promise to give back in the same measure that they gave.

The word “measure” seems to be very important to God, for He uses it in many places and pertaining to many subjects.  Notice what Jesus had to say about being a judge of our neighbor:  “Do not judge so that will not be judged.  For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure it will be measured to you?  (Matt. 7:12).

In Mark 4:24 we find a warning that we need to heed in this day when the gates of hell have been opened and there are no limits on what might appear on your television set.  He said. “Take care what you listen to, By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides” Mark 4:24.

I especially like Paul’s words in Ephesian 4:7 “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”  Wow, it that not a neat promise?  How tragic that so many do not take advantage of God’s irrevocable laws pertaining to “measure”.

In closing this epistle I would like to give, especially to the young people who read Gramps Morning Thoughts, a piece of wisdom that we learned in the very early years of our married life.  Simply stated, “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law” (Romans 13:8). 

In the last morning message the theme was “the joy of anticipation”.  When you get that compulsion to spend for something that is not an essential to life, the question is not whether the credit card has room and you can increase your monthly payments sufficiently to cover it, but what happens to the rest of your assets that you are placing in jeopardy by buying something you do not need. 

When my bride and I met at the altar and said our “I dos and I wills” we did not have two dimes to rub together. I was an airman deuce in the Air Force, an organization that is not known for their high salaries.  No house, no furniture and no saving accounts.  After much looking we found a used 45 X 8 foot New Moon mobile home that had some years on it but had been taken care of and the owner wanted to get it off his hands, NOW, That my friends, is a bargaining chip that one can take advantage of.  For three thousand dollars we had all we needed to set up our first home. 

God is a fabulous provider for those who come under His Lordship and are willing to allow Him to do your budgeting and purchasing.  Jesus said many times, “Ask” and I will provide- if it is within my plan for your life and something that you need at this moment and it won’t hurt you.  But there is prerequisite to that promise found in Malachi 3:10-11,

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows”.  Now notice the fringe package that God offers with this promise, “Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that It will not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes,” says the Lord of hosts”.  Notice “And test me.”

Do you want a special Christmas promise from an old man, if you cannot pay off your credit card by the month, burn it. 

Blessings,

Gramps