Direction + Decision
Week 2: Poured Out
f/t/i @achuckallen
Every day we are faced with hundreds of decisions. They range from trivial (sandwich or salad for lunch), to moral (good or evil), to priority (best or better). In these decisions we want to make good choices. Why? Because we are the sum total of our decisions. We make our decisions, and our decisions make us. Be careful of the choices you make today. They will become your lifestyle tomorrow.
Have you ever invested in something – a relationship, a business, a marriage, a church, a child, an education – you invested money, time, blood, sweat, tears…and felt like I’ve got nothing to show for it…it was all wasted.
Each day we face choices and most of them are directly related to our walk with God and our view of God. So today, I’d like to take a look at 3 short stories from scripture that lead to 1 word that clarifies our direction and decisions and set a course correction for most of our lives. And allows us to see that in God’s economy, your risk, investment and time are never wasted.
Three Stories…let’s start with a story of King David. Tucked away in a lesser known passage in 1 Chronicles 11:16-19 :
16 David was staying in the stronghold at the time, and a Philistine detachment had occupied the town of Bethlehem. 17 David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.” 18 So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But David refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the Lord. 19 “God forbid that I should drink this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.” So David did not drink it.
Now jump to another story, where we see another offering. In Matthew 26:6-13:
6 Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. 7 While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head.
8 The disciples were indignant when they saw this. “What a waste!” they said. 9 “It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.”
10 But Jesus, aware of this, replied, “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? 11 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. 12 She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. 13 I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”
Then the 3rd story found in 2 Timothy 4:5-8:
5 But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.
6 As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. 8 And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.
So, I started today’s teaching wondering if we could set our lives in the best direction and make a good decision. I started by asking a question that may assist us in that process – have you ever invested so much in something that you were so broken or so wounded, or so hurt because it didn’t turn out the way you imagined?
Then with three stories of being poured out, I’m left with one word. HERE.
When you’ve carried something so long, so far, so painfully, you come to God with the one word of surrender – HERE. Palms up, heart heavy, and lovingly say HERE. Take this, I can’t do it.
Are you ready to be poured out as an offering? It is an act of your will, not your emotions. Tell God you are ready to be offered as a sacrifice for Him. Then accept the consequences as they come, without any complaints, in spite of what God may send your way.
God sends you through a crisis in private, where no other person can help you. From the outside your life may appear to be the same, but the difference is taking place in your will.
Once you have experienced the crisis in your will, you will take no thought of the cost when it begins to affect you externally. If you don’t deal with God on the level of your will first, the result will be only to arouse sympathy for yourself.
Tell God you are ready to be poured out as an offering, and God will prove Himself to be all you ever dreamed He would be.
Which leads us to this beautiful picture of remembrance – at the table of The Lord’s Supper, or Communion. Where we remember that the single greatest offering – Jesus – released us from our single greatest pain – sin – Jesus allowed Himself to be poured out. His body broken, his blood spilled, so we might be poured into with grace and mercy, forgiveness and love.
Are you willing to be poured out as an offering? If so, He is waiting on you to look to Him with palms up and say HERE. Here is my marriage, my kids, my job, my health, my addiction…HERE, I surrender. Use me as an offering poured out for You.