Filled To The Rim With . . .?

A coffee drinker? Not me. Just never acquired a taste for the stuff. But that does not mean I don't recall all those 'catchy' phrases of the major coffee brands. Remember these phrases from the commercials from the '60's, '70's, and '80's?

"Good to the last drop"(1)

"The best part of waking up is ________ in your cup"(2)

"The richest coffee in the world is picked by Juan Valdez"(3)

Earlier this week, as I was preparing for a good night's rest, I wanted to end the day by reading from the Bible. I was determined to read and meditate on something that I had not read in quite awhile. So, I read the last two chapters of Paul's letter to the Romans. An awesome passage of Scripture with much that can be pondered and reflected upon. Two verses in chapter 15 just 'jumped' off the page at me that night. They were verses 13 and 14:

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. And concerning you, brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to admonish one another."

Reading those verses and reflecting on the truths within them reminded me of another coffee catch phrase:

"Filled your cup to the rim with _______"(4)

What 'jumped' off the page at me was what Paul said he was convinced that those followers were full of/filled with: Goodness and all knowledge. And, his petition to God was that they would be filled with all joy and peace.

That led me to search the New Testament to find out what else we(the followers of Jesus) are to be full of/filled with?

"And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit..."

" ...having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ..."

" ...that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom..."

Stephen spoken of in Acts 6 is said to have been full of faith and the Holy Spirit(v. 5); grace and power(v. 8).

So the questions began: Had I ever been taught that as His follower I am now to be filled with all these things? Are these the truths that I had been fed all (or any at all) of my life as a Christian?

The simple answers to these questions(for me) are either, "No", or "Yes, to some degree and I have just forgotten". Either way, I realized that I really, really needed this reminder. For, I know that I so often allow the outside influences to direct my life instead of allowing all that has been placed within me to rule my life.

Although I never have been a literal coffee drinker(and probably never will be), it is past time for me in my spiritual walk to empty the cup of terrible-tasting coffee that I have allowed myself to swallow, and re-fill my cup to the rim with only HIM!

"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things."

(1) Maxwell House

(2) Folger's

(3) 100% Columbian Coffee

(4) Brim

Been Wondering(Part Two)...finally

As I begin the second part of this post, I feel a slight sense of obligation, with a heavy dose of enthusiasm, in attempting to explain the delay in concluding these thoughts.

So here goes. . . . my absolute favorite way of God communicating with me took place once again over this past week. Let me explain. Last week when the first part of this post was finished, I knew(for the most part) what I wanted to say in this second part. However, God believed that there just might be a far better way to express those thoughts. So, He began to work. First, there was a comment made to me about the first post; then a Scripture reference during a sermon, which led to another Scripture; then a commercial on the television; and then finally a little song. Put all those ingredients together, mixed with some divine inspiration and His graciousness, and you get . . . .

The first followers of Jesus were simply doing just that: following Jesus. They simply did what they had witnessed Him doing for those three to three and half years of ministry. Jesus had taught His first followers to pray, "Father, Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven". The essence of Jesus establishing the kingdom of heaven on earth was in order that everyone could 'get a good look' at what heaven is like. Some were able to witness that directly from Jesus' own life. But when He left this earth, how were the peoples of this world going to continue to see the 'kingdom way'?

Yes, Jesus said, "I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

And, and, and He also said, "You are the light of the world. . . Let your light so shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven".

Those first followers understood, I believe, that while Jesus was with them, He was the perfect picture of the kingdom of heaven for them and the world to see. However, when He left, they realized that they had become the visual for the world to see what heaven's ways are like. As a matter of fact, those first followers were first known as "The Way"(Acts 9:2, 19:9, 19:23).

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is Galatians 2:10. It's because of the principle behind the words. After meeting in Jerusalem with the 'pillars' of the church, Paul and Barnabas headed to the Gentiles with the Gospel and an admonition to "remember the poor". Paul's response to this request, "The very thing I was eager to do". I love this so much, because it tells me that remembering the poor was not just a Jerusalem congregation thing. It was the mind-set, or even better, the life-set of the followers of Jesus for generations and generations; for centuries and centuries.

Yes!...for centuries and centuries.

Julian, the Apostate was the son of Constantine the Great. He followed his father as emperor of the Roman Empire(355-363 A.D.). As much as Constantine cherished and loved Christianity; Julian despised and hated it. In a premeditated attempt to alter the reliance of pagans on Christian charity, Julian purposefully encouraged a Roman philanthropic system. Upon its complete failure though, Julian angrily wrote of these fourth century Christians,



"These impious Galileans not only feed their poor, but ours also; welcoming them into
their agapae, they attract them, as children are attracted, with cakes." (1)

And so I believe that at least into the middle of the fourth century followers of Jesus still believed that they were the "light of the world". Why? Because Jesus had told them that they were(Matthew 5:14). I also believe that they must have reflected quite often on a promise of God from Isaiah 58...

"And if you give yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
then your light will rise in darkness..."

Jesus Himself knew of His Father's promise as well. For He gave of Himself to the hungry ones; He satisfied the desires of many afflicted ones; and oh how the Light from heaven shined while He walked this earth.

And so for two weeks now; all of this that has been thought out, prayed over, and shared is for this one simple nugget:

Would it not be an unprecedented witness to our world today that we are this same "light", because we first equally and impartially care for our brothers and sisters("not a needy person among us"); then reach out into our communities, neighborhoods, and society with the exact same love and care?

Possibly, His Will being done on this earth as it is in heaven . . .

This little light of mine,

I'm gonna let it shine.

This little light of mine,

I'm gonna let it shine.

This little light of mine,

I'm gonna let it shine.

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

(1) C. Schmidt, (Social Results of Early Christianity, Wm. Isbister Limited, London, 1885)p. 328.