A good measure of new life
A homeless man on the street once asked me for money. It would have been enough for me to give him money and keep going with my day, thinking I had been generous because I would have given him a small meal, or worse, a quick fix. Luke 6:38 tells us, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Life is full of opportunities to be generous. It is benevolence when you are merciful and do not judge someone else's circumstances. Not blaming them is showing love. When you offer forgiveness to others, you have empathy. These are all forms of generosity. We may find it hard to go through life and not think the worst of others in difficult situations. It's easy to judge someone else for missteps made and for wrongs done, but I know that I am sometimes a difficult person. I mess up. I can be uncaring, inconsiderate, and proud at times. Despite this, Luke encourages us to understand that while we are not perfect, we should be generous to others, showing forgiveness.
With the same measure, it will be measured for us. With the same mercy Jesus showed on the cross, we should demonstrate this mercy to others. By taking the time to share a meal with this homeless man, I would have had the opportunity to meet his physical need for food and have the chance to meet his spiritual need for the gospel. While this takes more time than giving him money or ignoring him, it is "good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over..." Be generous today.