God’s Measuring Stick

A few years ago I had a revelation that resulted in a major shift in my thinking. The revelation was that God doesn’t measure me by the world’s standards, nor will He ever do so!

The world tells us that we have to look a particular way, act a particular way, drive a certain car, own various items, be wealthy and trendy to be acceptable, but none of the above has any value to God. He measures each of us very differently to the world and values us simply because we are the works of His hands. He painstakingly planted and formed us in our mother’s womb and declared us to be of immense value; His masterpieces and works of art!

I tried to get this point across to a group of Romanian young people once, in a very unusual way. Bringing a long branch to the meeting, I held it up to the group and announced that it represented the world’s measuring stick.

Bemused teens stared back at me, wondering what I would do next. Moving out from behind the lectern I forcefully broke the branch over my knee and announced, “This is what God thinks of the world’s measuring stick”.

I then threw the two pieces into a vacant corner in the room. You could have heard a pin drop at that very moment. They hadn’t expected such a confrontational example, but that simple act got the point across very clearly. I then expanded on their worth in God and how He measures each of us.

I wonder what measuring stick you’re measuring your life alongside. If it’s the world’s measuring stick, then perhaps today is the day for a major shift in your thinking. It’s God’s perspective that matters most, and once you’ve settled that matter, the world will lose its pull on you, and you’ll see yourself through the eyes of God.

Prayer: O God, my loving Creator and source of all truth, I choose Your perspective over my own or anyone else’s. Thank You that You don’t measure me with the world’s measuring stick, and I have worth, simply because You created me. I’m fearfully and wonderfully made. I want Your values to be my values. Amen.