Hi Brian!

I hope that you are all having a wonderful time! The word for this week is "measure".  We'll be looking at these two verses: 

Luke 6:38 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. KJV

Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: KJV

This is the Greek word "metron". Strong's Concordance says: a limited portion. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: an instrument for measuring; a determined extent, a portion measured off. In Luke 6:38 we are told that when we give, God will used the same measure in giving to us that we use when we give to others. The difference is that He uses that measure and then multiplies our giving back to us! We see this in 2 Corinthians 9:10:

10 Now he that ministers seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) KJV

What a wonderful return on our investment! You just can't out-give God! In Ephesians 4:13 we see that God's plan and purpose for us is to have each of us grow up in the things of God until we become 'perfect', which actually means mature. The 'measure' of that maturity is nothing less than to be like Jesus! That should be the goal of every believer, even though we will never completely reach that goal until we get to Heaven and are in His presence! 1 John 3:2:

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. KJV

If we make Jesus our standard in giving and in growing up, we can't go wrong! In the one instance we receive a generous return and in the other, we have the potential to become more like Him every day until we DO see Him! That's a very good thing! Here is a song from Hillsong United that speaks of of His value being beyond all earthly measure, called "Tapestry":

Maker of earth and sky
And everything before our eyes
Your Word formed life and light
Within the crucible of time
The genesis of all mankind

Our lives a tapestry of grace
Your hand has weaved together
In You no thread will ever fray
This hope is ours forever
Your work of art a mystery
Beyond all earthly measure
Your love for us a masterpiece
Jesus our hope always

Author of grace divine
Love orchestrated in our lives
The cross of Calvary
The gift of God the centerpiece
Upon that cross You set us free

Our lives a tapestry of grace
Your hand has weaved together
In You no thread will ever fray
This hope is ours forever
Your work of art a mystery
Beyond all earthly measure
Your love for us a masterpiece
Jesus our hope always

Lift our eyes Towards the Son Glorious you stand alone
Raised to life You've overcome Holy is the Lord our God

(Your love is unrivaled) Lift our eyes toward the Son
(Your glory spans eternity) Glorious you stand alone
(Your word is final) Raised to life
(The cross of Christ our victory) You've overcome
(Every knee will bow at the name of Jesus) Holy is the Lord our God
(For there is no name like the name of Jesus)

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!