I just want to remind us all about an important ‘spiritual condition,’ especially now as we continue to see the “birth Pains” exploding all around us .. That condition is the ‘measuring line mentality’ most all of has grown accustomed to ..
When we read Zechariah 2:1-5, we see a man with a ‘measuring line’, & he’s going to measure Jerusalem .. But then, we see God is NOT happy! .. He sends his angel & says that it WILL NOT BE MEASURED! .. He says that Jerusalem is a city without walls, & the City of God, & God has no limits!
What’s being referred to here is the ‘tape measure mentality .. The point? .. We ALL do this ALL the time! .. When God calls, we need to put our tape measures away. .. Why? … If God is in it, it’s unmeasurable ..
… If God is in it, it is much bigger than we can even imagine it is!
When, & if, we stop for a moment & think about this, it simply reveals an obvious truth – we have become the generation of self-appointed measurers! .. We know that we learn skills thru seminars, programs, classes, sermons, & the like, & they are important, but after which, we often end up putting God back in a box .. By doing so, we have put limits on the power of God! .. We say things like this ..
… God used to do this, but no more …
… God used to heal & perform miracles, but not anymore ….
We need to really think about this & NOT to measure, & also, always remember that we can’t do anything WITHOUT GOD!
Let’s look for a moment at just a few biblical examples of what I’m talking about here ..
*Moses (Exodus 3) .. God said to him that there were 3 million people to deliver! .. and immediately, Moses took out his tape measure as to who he was & what he was capable of .. Twice he said, “WHO AM I?! .. WHO AM I?! .. Do we do that?
*Gideon (Judges 6) .. God said to him, “I want to use you” Gideon said, Hold it God! .. I’ve only got 32,000 men, & the Midianites are 250,000! .. God said, “You are right, you have TOO MANY! .. Reduce it to 300 (Judges 7) .. Needless to say, with God at his side, Gideon & the 300 won the battle ..
*Jesus feeding the 5,000 (Matthew14:13-21) .. Right away the disciples pulled out their tape measures! .. Where on earth would they get enough food to get this done .. We all know the answer .. The people were fed!
*The Nazareth Syndrome (Luke 4:14-24) .. We know that Jesus was brought up in this town .. After growing up & beginning His ministry, He returned there to testify .. But wait a minute! .. He was the carpenter’s kid .. Everybody thought He was just another local guy visiting .. & immediately, almost everybody pulled out their tape measures! .. & as a result, not much took place .. but then .. in the very next city, Capernaum, miracles happened! .. Everybody got healed! .. Why? .. No pre-conceived notions & no measuring lines! (Luke 4:31-37) ..
Many of us all called & we immediately pull out our tape measures – our measuring lines .. We don’t think we are educated enough – good looking enough –
“I can’t do it!” .. “I can’t do it!” .. Someone else could certainly do it better .. But when you are called, God didn’t choose someone else, He chose you! .. This is why many people today are NOT walking in their calling, not fulfilling their ‘assignments’ ..
Let’s face it, many of us are intimidated & we pull out our own personal ‘tape measures’ .. We measure ourselves by what WE think we are capable of .. But it is NOT by our might or our power, but by the Spirit of God!
Finally, we’ve got to be careful NOT to take the miraculous – the power of God – out of our services, our classes, our ministries & giftings, our personal lives .. With the very limited time we have left, there is a great amount of work to be done, & we don’t want to limit our expectations, or our opportunities to serve our Lord & Savior as He desires ..
Stay strong in these increasingly turbulent times, & let’s remember to pray for one another for the strength to stand strong & victorious! .. Hallelujah! .. and ..
Until next time,
Red