From the UCC Network: Devotional for 12/17 "Results Beyond Measure"

Results Beyond Measure

Excerpt from Philippians 4:4-7 

“The Lord is near.”

Reflection by William C. Green

In determining what’s good, we want measurable results.  Our way of measuring often fails to question the value of what we’re looking for.  Do we really wish all our prayers had been answered?  If so, we might be stuck in a job we prayed was safe but that we needed to leave, or relieved by assurance that proved misguided.  And so with better church attendance, good performance evaluations, and successful campaigns.  What’s measurable can be misleading, and it’s not what counts. 

What counts is what Advent anticipates: the coming of true hope in the birth of Christ.  Who could have measured the difference this would make?  With the advantage of hindsight we see world-wide significance.  At the time what could be “measured” was the poorness of parents and the extremity of poverty.  Later on, what could be measured was twelve disheveled disciples.  Then what could be measured was the might of Rome and the weakness of a crucified Savior.  The power of Easter could not be measured by the number who believed.

Paul says, not that the Lord is here, but that the Lord is near.  God is with us, but that’s hard to nail down and quantify.  Poverty, oppression, all manner of disorder and disease still prevail.  That’s measurable.  What’s immeasurable is God’s promise that this will be overcome.  In this expectation we are meant to live, to plan, and to love.

Prayer 

God, whose love is near and beyond measure, may we count on the new hope that is ours in Christ.  Amen.

About the Author William C. Green, a United Church of Christ minister, is the Director of Long Looking, a consultancy service specializing in fundraising and education for congregations. His new book, 52 Ways to Ignite Your Congregation: Generous Giving, has just been published.