Put away the measuring stick!

“Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you.” Proverbs 3:3 ESV 

Before the Passover meal, all the disciples forgot to wash Jesus’ feet. Bad performance! And after Jesus explained how the bread and wine symbolized his upcoming crucifixion, they started arguing about who would be the greatest in the Kingdom. Bad performance! Jesus also knew that within hours they would fall asleep on Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. Bad performance! And He knew Peter would deny Him. Bad performance! So how did Jesus grade them? He didn’t! He doesn’t grade people. And you don’t have to either. You’ll find wonderful rest in your soul once you stop grading people and instead start loving them from where they are to where they need to be. Rather than rebuking the disciples, Jesus complimented, rewarded, promoted, and put them on Heaven’s honour roll. Even after they failed to wash His feet, He still desired to eat Passover with them (see Luke 22:15). Nourished by their love, He said, “Ye are they which…continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom…that ye may eat and drink at my table…and sit on thrones” (Luke 22:28-30). On His most agonizing night, He passed out Christmas gifts and gave His very young disciples more than He ever gave anybody in terms of honour and glory. In His eyes they were all great. He didn’t grade them on their performance but on their love that motivated them to forsake all and stick with Him through thick and thin. Reimar Schultze said, “Don’t set up standards for yourself. That can kill you. As Jesus loved His disciples then, so He loves them now. So stop fussing and nitpicking at yourself and others!”

The Word for You Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from Celebration Enterprises, Inc. Copyright © 2024