The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. 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 6:36–38

By the measure we give, the Lord will give to us. That’s a sobering thought.

What would God’s condemnation toward us look like if he were standing in front of us and modeling our own behavior toward others?

Are we hardhearted? Harsh in judgment? Unforgiving? Selfish?

In Matthew 18:21–35, the master does not forgive the servant the great debt after the servant is unforgiving to the one indebted to him. It’s even in the Lord’s Prayer: “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12).

If we’re unwilling to forgive, we will not be forgiven.

On the other hand, are we generous? Patient? Merciful? Forgiving? Kind? Encouraging? 

If we can say yes to those, what a prize we can expect!

These things will be poured into our lap in return with unmitigated bounty.

It’s human nature to judge others harshly, and it’s difficult to forgive, but as we become more and more merciful as our Father is merciful, we will draw others to him by passing on his grace and kindness. 

The world expects reciprocity and payback. They don’t expect kindness and mercy.

It’s our job to show them that God is ready to give it. 

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