Joyful Ruins

To be measured by man

is to be measured against one another

to look at another

and covet their gifts

ignoring your own

wanting more.

To be measured by society

is to be measured against fantasy

to be compared to touched up images

to be reminded of failure

when held up to the story of “success”

to feel you need certain things:

money, promotion, popularity, beauty.

To be measured by religion

is to be measured against a set of rules

some made up by powerful men

a woman must be married

a man must provide

everyone must be completely pure

no depression or mistakes allowed

work to earn your place

fall behind and feel disgrace.

To be measured by your work

is to be measured against constant motion

one moment of non-productivity

equals doom

guilt seeps into every moment for oneself

failure causes you to feel defeated.

To be measured by oneself

is to be measured against your own thoughts

thoughts which change with feelings

thoughts shaped by past mistakes

and regrets

situation, places, and persons

which caused pain or core beliefs

thoughts which lie

cloud the mind, heart, and life.

YET

To be measured by God

is to be measured against the worth of Christ

it cannot be attained on our own

we will always fall short

so God forgives

forgets

our falling short

as He measures us

by His son’s sacrifice

by His son’s payment

on the cross

There is but only one part

we play,

to accept Christ’s measurement

to believe our falling short

and to choose Christ’s worth in exchange.

Then when measured by God

we are measured against the perfect Lamb

who covers us with His perfect worth

makes us content, holy,

pure, complete

truth filled, and rested

changed completely

so no other measurement will do.

So, we see one another as brother and sister

never competition.

So we are empowered to change society

bringing mercy, peace, and justice

not be influenced by it ourselves.

So, we are not defined by the rules of religion

but by Christ’s finished work

FREE to live

make mistakes

and live with security and confidence.

So we may rest from work

commanded to do so

not shaped by work

but shaped by Christ

which makes us shape our work.

So our thoughts do not control us

we make them captive to Christ

we know the truth

we fill up on the word

and our mind

covered by this truth

becomes a friend

not an enemy.

No more measuring by others means

There is but ONE measured truth

AND that is

the measurement is finished

your worth has been proclaimed

your identity defined

you stand on solid ground

So look up to the sky

fix your eyes on Christ

and know

you have been found!

you lack no good thing!