September 17th, 2024
There are two types of people in this world. The first category contains the responsible, always-prepared, conscientious folks who never let their gas tank dip below halfway full. The second group are the risk-takers. They live life on the edge, pushing vehicles (and gas gauges) to new, unprecedented limits, attempting to get one more trip or one last errand done before they stop at the gas station.
I just happen to be in the second group. And truthfully, I’ve been stuck on the side of the road more times than I’d like to admit. As much as I like the descriptions “living on the edge,” “adventure-seeker,” and “risk-taker,” it’s probably better described as “irresponsible,” “foolish,” and “hard-headed.”
From experience, I can tell you that the feeling of driving to the gas station, just hoping you’ll make it there on the gasoline fumes left in your tank, is quite disconcerting. But I wonder, do we often do something similar in our spiritual lives?
Many Christians – knowingly and unknowingly – are “running on fumes.” They are low on spiritual resources and headed for a major breakdown. September isn’t the beginning of the calendar year, but for many of us, it’s a transition back to a routine. Summer is over. The kids are back to school. Various fall activities are underway. But here’s the question – do you have a plan to “fill up” regularly? Have you included the spiritual disciplines in your routine?
We need to be reminded that healthy rhythms for the Christian include Scripture intake, time in intimate conversation with God, and gathering with our spiritual family on a weekly basis. Let me put it this way: you may be running on fumes if you seldom read your Bible. You may be running on fumes if your prayer life merely consists of offering a few requests to God from time to time. You may be running on fumes if you only attend church once or twice a month. And if you’re running on fumes, spiritual breakdown is likely.
But here’s the good news: you can be filled with all the fulness of God (Ephesians 3:19). He has given us “all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called you to glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3).
How does this happen? Practically, our tanks are filled (to continue the metaphor) by reading God’s Word. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).
Our tanks are filled as we communicate directly with God in prayer. “How much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” (Luke 11:13b).
Our tanks are filled when we gather and worship with our local church, the covenant community. After all, it is “with all the saints” that we comprehend the “breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ” (Ephesians 3:18-19).
Our tanks are filled when we sit in the pew, open our Bibles, and listen to Christ-centered preaching. David Mathis, author of Habits of Grace, writes, “The waters of good preaching are always running downhill to the stream of Christ, who he is, and how he has loved us.”
Be honest with yourself. Are you running on fumes? If you are, come to the “fill-up station.” The reservoirs of Christ’s grace and empowerment are never depleted, and they are always available to His own through the means He has ordained.
I just happen to be in the second group. And truthfully, I’ve been stuck on the side of the road more times than I’d like to admit. As much as I like the descriptions “living on the edge,” “adventure-seeker,” and “risk-taker,” it’s probably better described as “irresponsible,” “foolish,” and “hard-headed.”
From experience, I can tell you that the feeling of driving to the gas station, just hoping you’ll make it there on the gasoline fumes left in your tank, is quite disconcerting. But I wonder, do we often do something similar in our spiritual lives?
Many Christians – knowingly and unknowingly – are “running on fumes.” They are low on spiritual resources and headed for a major breakdown. September isn’t the beginning of the calendar year, but for many of us, it’s a transition back to a routine. Summer is over. The kids are back to school. Various fall activities are underway. But here’s the question – do you have a plan to “fill up” regularly? Have you included the spiritual disciplines in your routine?
We need to be reminded that healthy rhythms for the Christian include Scripture intake, time in intimate conversation with God, and gathering with our spiritual family on a weekly basis. Let me put it this way: you may be running on fumes if you seldom read your Bible. You may be running on fumes if your prayer life merely consists of offering a few requests to God from time to time. You may be running on fumes if you only attend church once or twice a month. And if you’re running on fumes, spiritual breakdown is likely.
But here’s the good news: you can be filled with all the fulness of God (Ephesians 3:19). He has given us “all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called you to glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3).
How does this happen? Practically, our tanks are filled (to continue the metaphor) by reading God’s Word. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).
Our tanks are filled as we communicate directly with God in prayer. “How much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” (Luke 11:13b).
Our tanks are filled when we gather and worship with our local church, the covenant community. After all, it is “with all the saints” that we comprehend the “breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ” (Ephesians 3:18-19).
Our tanks are filled when we sit in the pew, open our Bibles, and listen to Christ-centered preaching. David Mathis, author of Habits of Grace, writes, “The waters of good preaching are always running downhill to the stream of Christ, who he is, and how he has loved us.”
Be honest with yourself. Are you running on fumes? If you are, come to the “fill-up station.” The reservoirs of Christ’s grace and empowerment are never depleted, and they are always available to His own through the means He has ordained.
Recent
Archive
2024
January
February
November
Categories
no categories
Tags
no tags
No Comments