How God Measures Us

In the last few chapters of the book of Ezekiel, God takes Ezekiel up in a vision. He is led by a man with a measuring through a city to measure the temple of that city. All through chapter's 40-42 of Ezekiel it says "He measured...He measured...He measured...He measured" and it feels like it's never going to end. But at the very end of this long list of measurements, there is a statement that tells us what it's really all about. Ezekiel 42:20 says that these measurements were to "...divide between the Holy and the profane." The message that God was sending to His people was that he was going to measure them to be sure they were properly separating the Holy things from the profane things. You know, God still measures His people today. The question I want to look at is how does does He measure us today?

God Measures Us by His Word.

Jesus said, "If you love me you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). John wrote, "If anyone says 'I know Him' but doesn't keep His commandments, he is a liar" (1 John 2:4). The final vision of the book of Revelation shows us a judgement day scene. On that day, it says that God will open the scripture books and judge us according to our deeds (Revelation 20:12). God measures us today by the scriptures. We ought to be people who strive to keep follow Jesus' teachings. it doesn't mean we have to be perfect, we have grace for that. But we will be measured by the scriptures. If God measured you today, would he find you faithful to His word?

God Measures us Through Trials.

Another interesting way that God measures us is through trials. Peter said that Christians face various trials as a "testing of their faith" (1 Peter 1:6-7). When we face trials it is a way of God measuring us to ensure that our faith is where it needs to be. Some people grow stronger through trials because their faith is where it ought to be. However, some walk away from the Lord in trials because their faith was in the wrong thing. God uses these things to measure us and ensure that we are where we need to be. How will you stand in the face of trials? When God measures you will he find you faithful to his teachings?

- Kolton Ballance

Are you teachable? (part 2)

In the last article we looked at some barriers that keep us from being teachable. To be teachable means to be willing to learn, even when it challenges what you've always known. In this article I want to look at HOW we can make ourselves more teachable.

Be Humble.

First and foremost, if we are going to be teachable, we've got to practice humility. We've got to be humble enough to accept that we don't know it all! If we can't accept that simple fact, then we will never be teachable. This is why humility is so often talked about in the Bible - because it is key to being a disciple of Jesus. James said, "Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord and He will exalt you" (James 4:10). We can't be true disciples and not be humble. Humility is a key to being teachable.

Be a Student.

A student is someone who studies. If we are going to be teachable, we have to actually be taught. It doesn't do any good to have the willingness to learn, but never actually sit down and learn. Peter said "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). Someone who is teachable must also be someone who is growing in knowledge. They must be a student of God and His word.

Be a Seeker.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:7, "Seek and you will find." Jesus wanted people to be "seekers." A seeker is someone who is looking for truth, and looking for answers to their questions. A seeker is someone who is not only humble enough to say they don't have all the answers, they're not only a student who wants to learn, but they're the kind of person who seeks out those answers. They knock on the door looking for answers. They ask questions looking for answers. If we're going to be teachable we must learn to seek out truth.

- Kolton Ballance