Top Off Your Tank

Daily Reading: Luke 6

Scripture Focus: 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. (Luke 6.37-38)

Devotional Thought: My father-in-law, Nick, was very generous. I remember that he used to ride with me to the gas station to fill my car with gas when we would visit them. Do you remember the days when we would top off the gas tank after we filled it? (The EPA – along with the car manufacturers – tells us not to do that anymore.) Nick always made sure that I topped off the tank. As long as he was buying, he wanted to make sure it was full! One time, he even made sure that the car was pointed down the slight grade at the gas station so that the tank would hold more! Nick believed in a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over!

That’s how our heavenly Father is with us, too. When we give, he gives to us in return. He gives even more than we give. Often, I refer to this truth to encourage people to tithe and to give to good causes. But, as we look at the context, it is even more basic than that. We are encouraged to give mercy and forgiveness to others. When we do that, we receive even more mercy and forgiveness from God! Matthew remembered Jesus saying this in conjunction with the Lord’s Prayer: “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6.14-15).

Do you want to live with the overflowing abundance of God’s mercy and forgiveness – a good measure, pressed down, shaken together? Then give mercy and forgiveness freely. You will find God’s grace piled high upon your lap. He will top off your tank!

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for giving me mercy and forgiveness. As I have received these gifts from you, so I will give them to others. And, Jesus, thank you for topping off my tank with grace upon grace. I love you, Lord! Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 135.15-21

15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 16 They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; 17 they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths. 18 Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them.

19 O house of Israel, bless the Lord! O house of Aaron, bless the Lord! 20 O house of Levi, bless the Lord! You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord! 21 Blessed be the Lord from Zion, he who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the Lord!