Daily Devotionals

For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who ...measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves (2 Corinthians 10:12 NASB).

When Rabbi Joshua went to Athens to argue with the renowned philosophers there, they asked him, "Where is the centre of the world?" The rabbi pointed to a spot near his feet and said,"Here!" The Greeks responded, "How can you prove it?" Joshua answered, "Bring ropes and measure" (Bechorot 8b). Rabbi Joshua rightly discerned that his audience would never admit that their measuring devices were inadequate for the task.

Rabbi Sha'ul (Saul; i.e., Paul) expresses his confidence that the exact opposite is true for believers. God has given us precisely the tools we need—his perfect and absolute standard—by which to accurately measure ourselves. He invites us to know his views (1 Kings 2:3), his thoughts (Isaiah 55), even his personal presence (Psalms 16:11). This living connection with God sets us apart from the rest of the world (Exodus 33:15-16).

When we accept his standard, surrendering our right to self-definition (unlike the Corinthians described in the above Scripture) we gain a true understanding of ourselves. Let us yield our thoughts and our deeds to the one who can teach us the difference between that which is truly right, and that which merely seems right (Proverbs 14:12).

...lay down my own measuring rod and invite the Lord to teach me how to measure according to his standard.

BC