[God] who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.   Philippians 1:6

I love gadgets. So you can imagine my excitement when I saw the newest laser level on sale. Having just moved, I had pictures and wall hangings to be hung. This tool would do the trick! Minutes later, I was at home shooting the laser’s little red beam on every flat surface of my house. (It even curved around corners.) I had confirmed within the hour that everything in my house was level. Content, I put the gadget on a shelf — where it still sits. The pictures and wall hangings remain unhung.  In today’s reading from Amos, the prophet talks about a different leveling tool, a plumb line. The plumb line, a piece of string with a metal weight, is hung to see if vertical lines such as walls are straight (plumb). If they are not, with time walls may buckle. Amos says that a time is coming when all people will be measured according to God’s standards. God is no longer content with the way the people have begun to buckle and sway.  As with the people to whom Amos spoke, God calls us to be ready, to examine ourselves by the standard established through scripture and Christian tradition. Even if we leave these tools on a shelf to collect dust, God is faithful. Each of us is a project that God will see through to completion. 

Holy God, give us courage to look at ourselves in light of who you call us to be. Then help us to open ourselves to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. Amen.