Adding to the Recipe
February 19, 2025
Adding to the Recipe
Luke 6:37-38
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap, for the measure you give will be the measure you get back."
Adding to the Recipe
Do you bake? If you do, the last sentence in our verse for today, will give you pause, as you recognize that what is being described is a reference to what happens when we add ingredients to a recipe. Imagine we are adding a full cup of flour to a mixing bowl that already has a few ingredients in it. When the flour gets added, it changes what is in the bowl to the point that the ingredients become something new altogether.
Which is what can happen when we choose non-judgement, non-condemnation, and forgiveness. When we choose to give of who we are created to be – with kindness, and peace, and love, a whole new mixture of relating can emerge in front of us. When we choose generosity of spirit, we change the mix of the life we are co-creating with the people in our orbit. We are getting a chance to be part of God’s work in the world, by living out what forgiveness and grace can look like. Grace runs over, and life tastes full and satisfying.
There are times, however, when loving ourselves as a reflection of God’s love tells us we cannot be in a relationship that is not safe for us. In those times, what we add to the recipe might be different. What we can do is set the boundaries that keep us able to be loving and graceful in our lives. What we can do is pray for the person to experience the love and grace they need. What we can do is trust that God’s love can go where we cannot.
So, in this world desperately in need of new ways forward, what is God calling us to add to the mixture today?
Reflection Questions:
1) Think about the day ahead of you. What opportunities might you have to choose what to add to the mix of your day?
2) Do you remember times when you were the one who needed forgiveness – and someone offered it to you?
3) Who can you pray for today – who might be in need of grace and love that could change their lives?
Prayer: Dear God, Help me to intentionally choose the ingredients I am bringing into my relationships, so that together we can make a mixture of grace and love. In Jesus Name, Amen
