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Grace Given in Your Measure – Love Beyond Measure · Still, Here

• 0:01
  SPEAKER_00: This is still here.
• 0:04
  SPEAKER_00: A quiet moment to remember what is true.
• 0:08
  SPEAKER_00: Listen to these words from the book of Ephesians chapter 4 verses 7 through 12.
• 0:16
  SPEAKER_00: But to each one of us the grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
• 0:22
  SPEAKER_00: Therefore, he says, when he ascended on high, he led captivity captive and gave gifts to people.
• 0:30
  SPEAKER_00: He gave some to be apostles and some prophets and some evangelists
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_00: and some shepherds and teachers for the perfecting of the saints to the work
• 0:40
  SPEAKER_00: of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ.
• 0:45
  SPEAKER_00: We are surrounded by rulers.
• 0:48
  SPEAKER_00: We measure intelligence,
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_00: productivity,
• 0:51
  SPEAKER_00: influence,
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_00: leadership ability, spiritual knowledge, income, audience size, and visible success.
• 1:01
  SPEAKER_00: Even the gifts of God can become another place to compare ourselves.
• 1:06
  SPEAKER_00: The small ruler says,
• 1:08
  SPEAKER_00: My contribution matters only if it is as visible or impressive as someone else's.
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_00: Paul uses the language of measure, but he changes the ruler.
• 1:20
  SPEAKER_00: Grace is given according to the measure of Christ's gift.
• 1:25
  SPEAKER_00: That means you do not need someone else's measure.
• 1:29
  SPEAKER_00: Comparison asks whether another person is stronger,
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_00: more gifted, more spiritual, more useful, or more visible.
• 1:40
  SPEAKER_00: Grace asks a different question.
• 1:43
  SPEAKER_00: When grace becomes abundant enough in our awareness, the need to measure begins to fade.
• 1:46
  SPEAKER_00: You may have spent years overlooking a gift
• 2:01
  SPEAKER_00: Perhaps people come to you when they need calm.
• 2:05
  SPEAKER_00: Perhaps you see patterns others miss.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_00: You may know how to organize what feels chaotic,
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_00: make a stranger feel welcome,
• 2:14
  SPEAKER_00: explain something clearly,
• 2:16
  SPEAKER_00: notice who has been left out, or remain steady when someone else is afraid.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_00: Because these abilities feel natural, you may assume they do not count.
• 2:29
  SPEAKER_00: Yet, what feels ordinary from within your own life may be precisely
• 2:33
  SPEAKER_00: where grace has become coherent with the person God formed you to be.
• 2:39
  SPEAKER_00: God's gifts are not rankings.
• 2:42
  SPEAKER_00: They are ways grace moves through different members of one body.
• 2:46
  SPEAKER_00: Some gifts become public.
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_00: Others remain almost invisible.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_00: Visibility does not determine spiritual value.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_00: The difference between contribution and proving usefulness is often
• 3:00
  SPEAKER_00: where our attention is directed.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_00: Proving usefulness looks outward and asks, How am I coming across?
• 3:08
  SPEAKER_00: Do people notice?
• 3:10
  SPEAKER_00: Is this important enough?
• 3:13
  SPEAKER_00: Contribution looks inward and asks,
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_00: What is God doing within me that is ready to become love for someone else?
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_00: That question carries less pressure.
• 3:24
  SPEAKER_00: It does not require you to become impressive.
• 3:28
  SPEAKER_00: It invites you to become available.
• 3:31
  SPEAKER_00: When you are coherent with grace,
• 3:34
  SPEAKER_00: you can remain attentive to the Spirit and allow what God has formed within you
• 3:39
  SPEAKER_00: to move outward in a way that fits who you are.
• 3:44
  SPEAKER_00: And when every person's contribution is recognized as needed,
• 3:48
  SPEAKER_00: comparison begins to lose its power.
• 3:51
  SPEAKER_00: You can celebrate another person's strength Because it does not diminish yours.
• 3:57
  SPEAKER_00: Their gift may supply something you cannot provide.
• 4:01
  SPEAKER_00: Yours may supply something they cannot.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_00: The body is strengthened by both receiving and giving.
• 4:09
  SPEAKER_00: Perhaps the invitation today is simply to stop minimizing what God has placed within you.
• 4:16
  SPEAKER_00: You do not need to inflate it or make it more impressive.
• 4:20
  SPEAKER_00: Receive it as grace, then offer it where love has somewhere to go.
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_00: You are never asked to be impressive.
• 4:29
  SPEAKER_00: You are invited to be available.
• 4:33
  SPEAKER_00: Take a moment for this prayer of presence.
• 4:37
  SPEAKER_00: Christ, giver of grace,
• 4:40
  SPEAKER_00: thank you for forming me with a contribution that does not need to compete
• 4:44
  SPEAKER_00: with anyone else's.
• 4:47
  SPEAKER_00: Free me from measuring my life against the visible gifts of others.
• 4:52
  SPEAKER_00: Help me recognize the places where your grace already flows naturally through me.
• 4:58
  SPEAKER_00: And make me willing to offer what you have given for the good of the body.
• 5:03
  SPEAKER_00: Let availability replace comparison.
• 5:07
  SPEAKER_00: Amen.
• 5:09
  SPEAKER_00: As you pick up the next task in front of you, carry this prayer with you.
• 5:16
  SPEAKER_00: I release comparison.
• 5:20
  SPEAKER_00: Grace gives me my place.
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_00: I release comparison.
• 5:28
  SPEAKER_00: Grace gives me my place.
• 5:52
  SPEAKER_00: Until next time, stay steady, stay open, stay present.
• 5:58
  SPEAKER_00: You are still here.