The Divine Measuring Tape
Inspired by insights from Day by Day by Grace
"Then the LORD delivered to me two tablets of stone written with the finger of God, and on them were all the words which the LORD had spoken… 'You have heard that it was said…But I say to you.'"
— Deuteronomy 9:10; Matthew 5:27–28
The law of God, delivered through Moses and clarified by Jesus, reveals God’s holy character and His will for how we are to live. From the stone tablets on Mount Sinai to the Sermon on the Mount, God’s standards have remained unchanging: He is holy, and He calls us to reflect His holiness.
But here’s the reality—none of us measure up. Romans 3:23 reminds us, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." God's law, in all its perfection, serves as a mirror showing us where we fall short, but it doesn’t produce in us the holiness it demands.
Imagine the law as a tape measure. It accurately reveals how tall we are but has no power to make us grow an inch taller. Likewise, God's law perfectly measures our lives against His holy standard but does not supply the power to meet that standard. Spiritual growth cannot come from measuring alone—it comes from God’s grace working in us.
Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, took this even further. He didn’t just measure external actions but exposed the heart's intentions. “You have heard that it was said…But I say to you” was His way of revealing that true holiness touches even our thoughts and desires.
So, how do we grow in holiness? Not by trying harder to meet the measurement, but by trusting in Jesus, who fulfilled the law on our behalf. His grace transforms us from within, enabling us to reflect His holiness in our actions and attitudes.
Reflection:
Are you holding up the tape measure of God’s law, feeling defeated by how far you fall short? Or are you resting in Christ, trusting Him to produce His life in you?
Prayer:
Father, I acknowledge that Your law is perfect, but I am not. Thank You for revealing my need for You through it. I trust in Jesus, who fulfilled the law on my behalf, and I yield to Your grace to shape my heart and life. May I rest in Your sufficiency and live in a way that reflects Your holiness. In Jesus' name, Amen