OceanSide church of Christ

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The Christian’s Measuring Tape
by: Dalton Gilreath

It is common knowledge that a word cannot be effectively defined by using the same word to describe it. In other words, it cannot be explained by comparing it with itself. For example, it would do little good to define or describe “repentance” as something that occurs when one repents. Furthermore, you cannot define a word by making up any definition for it that comes to mind. We might do something like that as a joke, but in order to find the true definition of a word we must look to the source, a dictionary.

This illustration serves to represent what many are doing today with their personal standard of morality. People want to define what is right by either making it up in their own mind, or by comparing their actions with themselves. Paul told the brethren at Corinth that we “dare not…compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (2 Cor 10:12 KJV). Man cannot measure his own spirituality against himself or his own ideas. We must go to the source, the Book, to find the true measuring tape for morality. Once we use that source we can learn whether we are commended, not by ourselves or an inferior standard, but by God (2 Cor 10:18). While the world continues to use an inferior measuring tape, make sure you are using the one and only measuring tape good for your life.