The measure of me

It was a simple question, really, but as I dug deeper, there was more to it . . . how "spiritual" are we??

Wow, oh, ah, hmm, so . . .how do you measure spirituality?  There really is no easy answer.  Most often we have a preconceived picture in our head about how a spiritual person looks.  We at quick to berate ourselves if we don't meet these expectations and too often we look down on others who don't meet these expectations.  How do we break these discouraging cycle?

Years ago, at a women's conference, the speaker was touching on this very topic.  We too often strive to find a model or measuring stick that we can model ourselves after.  As the speaker was going through her examples of lofty expectations and feelings of failure, she was holding up a meter stick.  It was a startling visual of how inadequate most of us can feel.  All of a sudden, she cracked the measuring stick over her knee, breaking it in two.  She then held up the pieces in the shape of the cross.  This was about 10 years ago and I still can remember the gasp of understanding that went through the crowd as it dawned on us how often we fall into the trap of using the wrong measuring stick.  

Where does the measure of our "spirituality" come from?  We can aspire to be like Jesus, but honestly, we will never measure up to the perfect Son of God, instead, we need to look to the cross and what Jesus did on that cross.  He took all our guilt, shame and condemnation on the cross.  It is only by the grace of God that we can ever imagine being used by Him.  

I've said it before, I love seeing in the Bible how God used what we would consider the most unlikely or "unspiritual" person.  Consider Moses--a murder, Samson--a ladies man, David--an adulterer, Jonah--a runner . . .and the list goes on.  What did the men and women of the bible have in common? They were in the right time and place to be used by God--they were willing!  These men and women were willing to be used by God and the results (fruit) were tangible.  

So, how do you measure spirituality?  I really don't think we can, only God sees the heart.  I believe our lives are to be an example of what it means to walk surrendered to God and strive to do what He wants.

**this was written over 2 weeks ago and was not a copy of any sermon . . .