13 May 2008

What are you filled with?

Most of us spend an inordinate amount of time doing things that are of absolutely no importance whatsoever! I mean, things that would have no effect on the state of the Union if you stopped. Can you think of anything off of the top of your head? No fellas, taking a shower doesn't count, that is definitely a necessity! Having trouble? Let me help you: watching TV, surfing the Internet, playing Cowboys and Indians with your younger siblings (c'mon, you know you do!). What about things like reading magazines, or going shopping? How about sports, or physical fitness? Then there are recreational things like four wheelers and fishing. Or there is my personal favorite: video games! If you think about it long enough, you could probably come up with a fairly long list. You might think some of these things are important. If you do, they probably are... to you.

Imagine you are a measuring cup. You only have so much room. You fill yourself with what is important to you. Once you are full, that's it, no more room. No matter how hard you try, you can only get so much packed in. After that, everything else you try to pour in starts spilling all over the place.

The list I rattled off earlier doesn't contain anything in it that is sin in and of itself. Although there is potential there for the opportunity to sin, these things on their own are not necessarily "bad". But that is not really the point I am trying to make. What I want you to find out is, where is your heart? The things you put your time and energy and even you money towards, are a very good indicator of what your measuring cup is filled with, where your heart is.

If you read Acts 2 you will find one of the most important milestones in the history of the New Testament Church. Before He left, Jesus had promised that a Comforter would come to guide and direct His followers. That Comforter was (and is) the Holy Spirit. He came on that day of Pentecost in the form of "Cloven tongues like as of fire". You can check it out for yourself in Acts 2. It was an amazing time! I mean, can you imagine being the first group of believers in Christ to receive the Holy Spirit? That must have been an amazing experience! This group of people were given the ability, through the Holy Spirit, to speak in other languages (not jibber-jabber by the way!) and that day won 3,000 people from many different nations and tongues to the Lord. What a way to start a church!

Imagine if the Holy Spirit had come down to these people only to find that there was no room for Him in their lives. Imagine if they were to full of X-box and Internet! What if they felt that physical fitness was more important than spiritual fitness? What if the ladies were more concerned about fashion than spiritual maturity? What if the men felt as though having their chariots tuned regularly was top priority? What if this group of measuring cups was already full of things that they thought were important? The Holy Spirit would have had no room in their lives. They would have missed their chance to do something great for God and be a part of something that will be remembered for eternity!

I hope by now that you have made the connection. God wants to fill you so He can use you. But, if there are other things already filling your life, He can't. Oh sure, He could empty you if He wanted to, He is God. He could force you to serve Him, but He won't. You see, what you have to understand about God is that He doesn't want you to serve Him because you have to, He wants you to serve Him because you want to. God has never forced His will on anybody and He won't do it to you. On the other hand, if you choose to serve Him out of a heart of love for what He has done for you, He will use you. When He does, you will begin to see amazing things happen!

What are you filled with? What is important to you? It may be time to do a little personal assessment of the contents of your life. It might be that you are OK, but more than likely you have some things that need to be gotten rid of and replaced with something better. The only way to refill your measuring cup is to empty it. Sometimes you can get away with just pouring the contents into the sink. Other times you have to wash it thoroughly before it can be refilled. But, either way, God can't fill it if it is already full. Ultimately, the decision is yours.

I promise you, if you could talk to Peter right now and ask Him if he wishes he could have done more Internet surfing while he was on earth, he would laugh in your face. God used Peter and thousands more like Him because they were fillable! Are you?

The simple fact is, you are going to spend time on what is important to you. So, ask yourself two questions: 1. What does God say is important? 2. What are you filled with?

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