Door Number One or Door Number Two

 

Judge not,

and you will not be judged.

Condemn not,

and you will not be condemned.

Forgive,

and you will be forgiven.

Give,

and it will be given to you.

Good measure, pressed down,

shaken together,

running over,

and will be put into your lap.

For with the measure you use,

it will be 

     measured back to you.

              Luke 6. 37-38

When I was young,

there was a game show

where the contestant 

  had to choose a door,

behind which was consequence

        or blessing.

Here, Jesus does not just ask,

   "Which door do you choose?"

  but He shows us the prize

      or the penalty behind them.

Are we choosing not to judge,

to bless instead of criticize,

to forgive without contingencies

       and to give generously?

It boils down to

  what kind of person do we

                         want to be.

Always evident in how we love 

      and respond to others.

Which door do we choose

 in this situation or relationship?

O LORD,

We are faced with choices

all day long

to honor You,

to bless You,

to make Yourself known,

to love others

and to leave a witness

  of Your loving-kindness.

Help us to be mindful of You

  and have the mind of Christ.

How we respond in everyday stuff

equips us for the extraordinary.

Thank You that Your mercy

     covers us all and changes us.

Guide our hearts today

    to choose You.