Is it measurable?

Galileo told us to measure what is measurable. Then we were to make measurable everything else that wasn't measurable to begin with. If we were to measure our 'spiritual progress' as it related to our goals for this year, how well are we doing? The Old Testament prophet Amos told us, "Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live! Then the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will be your helper, just as you have claimed. Hate evil and love what is good; turn your courts into true halls of justice. Perhaps even yet the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will have mercy on the remnant of his people." (Amos 5:14-15 NLT) How well are you doing with 'running from evil' these days? In other words, how well are you at turning your back to temptation, speaking up against evil around you, and intervening when God tells you it is time for you to take action? These are indeed things we can 'measure', and they are also things we can make 'measurable' that may not be at present!

Love what is good - four words that carry a wallop of a message. How do we measure what is good or bad for us? If we listen to the wisdom of science, we might incorporate more veggies in our mealtimes, take a multivitamin daily, and exercise more to keep our physical condition 'in shape'. If we adhere to the wisdom of financial advisors, we could be stashing away monies in gold, investing in new technology or medical research, all in the hopes of having a 'secure financial future'. If we can 'measure' the physical stuff, why don't we measure the 'spiritual' side of what is going on in our lives right now? How well are we doing reading God's Word daily, asking him to reveal some truth that will help us live so as to turn from evil and toward what is consistently good and morally upright? If we want a 'secure' future, there is no better investment we can make!

Good is always a reference to what is morally right and beneficial to one's growth. Actions that help us grow in love and forgiveness are 'good'. Things we do that are 'helpful' versus 'harmful' are good. To that end, scripture often refers to 'good deeds' such as acts of kindness, being just in our dealings, and having true compassion and empathy toward one another. 'Doing good' is measured by how well we are at following his commands. That one may catch us a little off-guard, making it a little harder to say we are really 'doing good'. We have those we obey easily and then there are those few other ones that are a little harder for us to incorporate. Loving what is good means we take all God says and incorporate it into our lives. In turn, we can 'measure' our progress toward living 'good lives'. For a goal to be truly a goal, it has to be measurable. Just sayin!