Luke 6:37-38 - Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.

In Luke 6:37-38, Jesus teaches us about the importance of forgiveness and the dangers of judging others. He begins by saying "Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned." Jesus is warning us that if we are quick to judge and condemn others, we will face that same judgment and condemnation ourselves. God will hold us to the same standard that we use for others. But Jesus doesn't stop there. He goes on to say "forgive, and you will be forgiven." This is a powerful promise - if we forgive others, God will also forgive us. Forgiveness is not always easy, especially when we have been deeply hurt. But Jesus modeled ultimate forgiveness on the cross, even asking God to forgive those who crucified Him. When we choose to forgive, we are following Christ's example and can trust God to forgive us in return. Jesus concludes this passage by saying "give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you." In other words, God blesses us when we are generous. If we give to others freely and abundantly, whether that's our time, resources, or forgiveness, God will pour out His blessings on us in even greater measure. We cannot out-give God. This passage is a powerful reminder to be slow to judge, quick to forgive, and generous in our giving. As followers of Christ, we are called to extend the same mercy, grace and generosity that God has lavished on us. May we be known as people of forgiveness, not judgment. And may we give freely, trusting God to bless us in return.

The words of Jesus in Luke 6:37-38 cut right to the heart of the Christian life. So often, our natural inclination is to judge others, to point out their faults and failings. We see the speck in our brother's eye while ignoring the log in our own, as Jesus says earlier in Luke 6. It's so much easier to condemn others than to look at our own sin. But Jesus calls us to a different way of living. He warns us that if we judge others harshly, we will be judged by that same standard. God is not fooled by our self-righteousness. He sees our hypocrisy when we condemn others while excusing our own sin. Instead, Jesus tells us to forgive. This is not easy, especially when someone has wounded us deeply. Forgiveness goes against our natural desire for justice and retribution. But when we forgive, we are acting in obedience to Christ, who forgave us while we were still sinners. We are trusting God to be the ultimate judge and leaving justice in His hands. Forgiveness brings freedom, not only to the person who is forgiven but also to the forgiver. It releases us from bitterness and resentment that can poison our souls. It allows us to experience the fullness of God's forgiveness in our own lives. Jesus also calls us to generosity, promising that when we give, it will be given to us in abundance. This applies not only to financial giving but to all areas of our lives. When we are generous with our time, our talents, our compassion and yes, our forgiveness, God blesses us in return. We experience the joy of being conduits of His love and grace to others. As followers of Jesus, we are called to live differently than the world around us. We are to be known for our mercy, not our judgment. For our forgiveness, not our condemnation. For our generosity, not our stinginess. This is not always easy, especially when we have been hurt or when we see injustice. But as we obey Jesus' words and follow His example, we will experience the abundant life He promises. A life marked by freedom, joy and the lavish love of God. May we be quick to forgive, slow to judge and generous in our giving, knowing that as we do, we will be blessed beyond measure. For the measure we use for others is the measure God will use for us.

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the powerful words of Jesus in Luke 6:37-38. I confess that too often, I am quick to judge and condemn others while excusing my own sin. Forgive me for my hypocrisy and self-righteousness. Lord, help me to be slow to judge and quick to forgive. When I am tempted to condemn others, remind me of the mercy You have shown me. Give me the strength to forgive those who have hurt me, even when it is difficult. Help me to trust You to be the ultimate judge and to leave justice in Your hands. Father, make me generous in every area of my life. Help me to give freely of my time, my talents, my resources and my forgiveness, knowing that You will bless me in return. Use me as a conduit of Your love and grace to others. Thank You for the freedom and joy that comes from living in obedience to Your Word. Help me to follow the example of Christ, who forgave even those who nailed Him to the cross. May my life be marked by mercy, forgiveness and generosity, so that others may see You in me. I pray this in Jesus' name, Amen.