February 7th, 2022
Today’s devotion is compliments of Leigh McLeroy (http://www.leighmcleroy.com/).
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Every now and then, I treat myself to a donut--and if you're going to have a donut, my theory is that you should make it a good one. My standard for "good" is cake, slightly crunchy, decent size, lightly glazed.
A donut shop in my town makes a mean "old fashioned cake" that meets that standard, so when I have a hankering for a donut, I head there...even though it's not particularly close, or particularly cheap. A splurge might as well be a splurge in every way, right? And, it should be a bit of trouble, so you don't splurge often.
Well, let me just say that my most recent splurge was something of a disappointment. The "good" donut I anticipated was still cake, still slightly crunchy and lightly glazed, but when I opened the bag, it was only half the size of its former self. It was a mini-donut, but at the same price. Think "one for the price of two." Instead of looking on the bright side (half the calories as before), I was irritated. I had not received the full measure of a donut, even though I had paid for it in time, trouble and cash. I may (may!) have even quashed my occasional donut splurge for good.
Full measure, once we've seen the standard, is easy to identify. We know when we've given it, and received it. We know what it is and isn't. God knows, too. He gave it. He longs for us to replicate his gift as we grow into the likeness of his beautiful, only-begotten son. It's a measure of maturity--of "grown up-ness"--not of kitchen ingredients, and it happens through love, attention, and the gift (and gifts) of the Holy Spirit. We don't achieve that measure of fullness as much as we cooperate toward it--with Christ and with one another.
I wasn't satisfied with my donut. I expected more. I know fullness when I see it. My prayer is that I will long for it in every way, even as I grow up into the fullness of Christ, who is God's great gift to me.
- Leigh McLeroy
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. (Ephesians 4: 11-14)
_________________________
Every now and then, I treat myself to a donut--and if you're going to have a donut, my theory is that you should make it a good one. My standard for "good" is cake, slightly crunchy, decent size, lightly glazed.
A donut shop in my town makes a mean "old fashioned cake" that meets that standard, so when I have a hankering for a donut, I head there...even though it's not particularly close, or particularly cheap. A splurge might as well be a splurge in every way, right? And, it should be a bit of trouble, so you don't splurge often.
Well, let me just say that my most recent splurge was something of a disappointment. The "good" donut I anticipated was still cake, still slightly crunchy and lightly glazed, but when I opened the bag, it was only half the size of its former self. It was a mini-donut, but at the same price. Think "one for the price of two." Instead of looking on the bright side (half the calories as before), I was irritated. I had not received the full measure of a donut, even though I had paid for it in time, trouble and cash. I may (may!) have even quashed my occasional donut splurge for good.
Full measure, once we've seen the standard, is easy to identify. We know when we've given it, and received it. We know what it is and isn't. God knows, too. He gave it. He longs for us to replicate his gift as we grow into the likeness of his beautiful, only-begotten son. It's a measure of maturity--of "grown up-ness"--not of kitchen ingredients, and it happens through love, attention, and the gift (and gifts) of the Holy Spirit. We don't achieve that measure of fullness as much as we cooperate toward it--with Christ and with one another.
I wasn't satisfied with my donut. I expected more. I know fullness when I see it. My prayer is that I will long for it in every way, even as I grow up into the fullness of Christ, who is God's great gift to me.
- Leigh McLeroy
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. (Ephesians 4: 11-14)
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