The Standard

The Standard

First, what is a standard?

A level of quality or attainment

An idea or thing used as a measure, norm, or model in comparative evaluations

Standards are rules, regulations, guidelines

They are our principles and values

So, what is your standard?

You have to believe in something

Is Jesus standard, His actions worthy enough to live by?

Just remember you have to know what He said and did to answer that question      

So, what is your standard?

 

 

The Standard

 

First, what is a standard?

 

A level of quality or attainment

An idea or thing used as a measure, norm,

or model in comparative evaluations

 

Standards are rules, regulations, guidelines.

 

They are our principles and values.

 

So, what is your standard?

 

I think we all have heard the term…

 

 “Setting the bar”

 

This term seems to come from the 1950s

and the sport of pole vaulting.

 

This sport involves using a pole to jump over a bar.

 

The bar in pole vaulting could be set low or high.

 

The bar could be raised as achievements

to jump the bar increased.

 

Standards have value.

 

Every coin has a number stamped on it

and everyone knows its value.

 

A tape measure or scale is a standard

we can all rely on.

 

 So, what is your standard?

 

We have standards for weights, length,

and a host of other things

 we use every day to live…

 

 But what is our standard for life?

 

Maybe it is “comparing yourself with someone else”.

 

This is a very common standard.

 

We can say I am not as bad or good as someone else.

 

 This bar is easy to raise or lower

to make us feel good or challenged.

 

We are all people watchers.

 

 We look at the clothes others wear,

the cars and homes others have.

 

We compare ourselves with celebrities and athletes.

 

We gauge our level of success by

comparing ourselves with others.

 

There can be some positives to

comparing ourselves with others.

 

Paul said to the Corinthians…

 

I am not commanding you,

but I want to test the sincerity of your love

by comparing it with the earnestness of others.

2 Corinthians 8:8

 

Are we doing as good as others

 with what we have?

 

Paul a little later in 2 Corinthians warns

of the dangers of comparing ourselves with others…

 

 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves

with some who commend themselves.

When they measure themselves by themselves

and compare themselves with themselves,

they are not wise.

2 Corinthians 10:12

 

Comparing ourselves with others

generally leads to pride.

 

This is why Paul says to the Galatians…

 

 Each one should test his own actions.

Then he can take pride in himself,

 without comparing himself to somebody else,

for each one should carry his own load.

                                                                                       Galatians 6:4-5

 

But let’s get real…

 

 All of us have things we do well

and things we don’t do well.

 

This type of comparison can allow us to pick

and chose or lower and raise the bar.

 

So, what is your standard?

 

Maybe you are the person who likes “laws and order”.

 

You live by the Golden Rule

as well as the laws of the land.

 

You feel guilty driving over the speed limit.

You are a disciplined person

and always on time.

 

Although the law is good…

 

 It serves to keep us from doing wrong or bad.

 

We know that the law is good if one uses it properly.

We also know that law is made not for the righteous

but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful,

the unholy and irreligious;

for those who kill their fathers or mothers,

for murderers, for adulterers and perverts,

for slave traders and liars and perjurers —

and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine…

1 Timothy 1:8-10

 

This is why Jesus warned us of being

like the Pharisees and teachers of the law…

 

 Who were very good at keeping the law.

 

For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses

that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law,

you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:20

 

Keeping the law can stop us from doing wrong…

 

 But can make us proud and self-righteous.

 

So, what is your standard?

 

Let’s consider Jesus Christ as the standard.

 

Jesus was a people watcher.

 

Although He knew what was in each one of us,

He still loved us so much He died for the world.

 

This demonstrates the compassion He showed

for the sick and suffering to the fullest degree.

 

Jesus fulfilled the law.

 

He showed us how to live beyond just not

doing wrong or what is required.

 

In Ephesians 4 there is a standard.

 

This standard is…

 

Attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Ephesians 4:13

 

What if we made Jesus Christ the standard of our life?

 

First of all, we would have to have a knowledge

of Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

 

Any one who would grow in their knowledge of God

would see who He is.

 

They would see what He has done.

 

 They would see Him meet the needs of all humanity.

 

To know Jesus Christ is to know…

 

The standard of perfection

without condemnation, but redemption.

John 3:17

 

Coming to the knowledge of Jesus is to see unity,

not a unity for everyone to agree…

 

 But a unity of the Faith.

 

This unity is the standard that embraces God as Creator.

 

Faith in God is…

 

 Trusting God made us with a plan and purpose.

 

Making Jesus the standard will help you

to grow and become mature.

 

Making Jesus the standard is not something you do alone…

 

 Until we all reach unity in the faith

and in the knowledge of the Son of God

and become mature,

attaining to the whole measure

of the fullness of Christ.

 

Then we will no longer be infants,

tossed back and forth by the waves,

and blown here and there by every wind of teaching

and by the cunning and craftiness of men

in their deceitful scheming. 

Instead, speaking the truth in love,

we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head,

 that is, Christ.

 From him the whole body,

 joined and held together by every supporting ligament,

grows and builds itself up in love,

as each part does its work.

Ephesians 4:32-16

 

Look around you…

 

 What are the standards are the people you know?

 

Turn on the TV what is the standard you see?

 

Is the standard of this world working?

 

Is the world a better place?

 

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

Ephesians 4:17-19

 

May I leave you with this challenge…

 

Get to know Jesus.

 

As you get to know Him…

 

 Examine the standard and His fruit.

 

Set the standard bar for your life

at the full measure of Christ.

 

Jesus’ purpose in coming

to the earth in flesh like you and I…

 

Was to set an example.

 

Jesus is God’s model in the flesh of the standard.

 

If you can find a better standard than Jesus…

 

 Live that standard and in a few years

let me know how it worked out.

 

Or, better yet…

 

 Look at the fruit of those who tried that standard

and rethink making Jesus your standard.

 

Be careful you don’t confuse those who

call on the name of Jesus, as Jesus.

 

All who make Jesus the standard…

 

 Miss the mark.

 

And that is what makes Jesus so wonderful.

 

He is full of Mercy and Grace.

 

If you are an atheist,

not believing there is a God or Jesus…

 

You have to believe in something.

 

Is Jesus’ standard, His actions

 worthy enough to live by?

 

Just remember…

 

 You have to know what He said

and did to answer that question.

       

So, what is your standard?

 

 

 

Scripture Reading

 

Ephesians 4:12-32 NIV

 

 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

 

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

 

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

 

20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

 

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

 

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.