Being Poured Out (day 20)

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One of my favorite pictures in Scripture is that of a drink offering.  A drink offering consisted of wine poured out on an altar as a sacrifice to God.  In Genesis 35:14 Jacob poured a drink offering on the place where he had met with God.  The drink offering was said to be a pleasing aroma to God (Exodus 29:41).  In 2 Timothy 4:6 Paul talks about his life. He says, "I am already being poured out like a drink offering..." 
These scriptures are so rich with application that I barely know where to begin.  But lets just take a couple of the ideas and run with them.
First the idea of meeting with God.  Jacob poured the drink offering on the place where he met with God.  It was to signify something very special that had happened.  Sisters every day we have the opportunity to meet with God to share with Him and pour out our lives to Him.  The very act of pouring ourselves out before the One who loves us is a sacrifice which is pleasing to Him.  It is very special.
Second Paul takes the idea of drink offering to a whole new level when he says, "I am already being poured out like a drink offering,"  and to me it is interesting that in this instance Paul says he is being poured out.  In other words Paul is the vessel in which God does the pouring.  Imaging God taking your life and pouring you out as a drink offering to those around you - to your friends, family and acquaintances.  He is doing the work and we respond in obedience by "being poured out."
My dear friends as we drink in the Word of God in our special times of meeting with Him He in turn pours us out to a dying and needy world.  What a privilege! 
As we continue to seek to obey God with our bodies and our spirits lets strive to continue to do so by pouring ourselves out. As you are poured out may you find strength to persevere beyond what you hoped or imagined!

Homework
Read aloud 2 Timothy 4:6-7
What do you learn about God from this passage?
What do you learn about yourself?
Write in your journal the verse or verses that really speak to you or perhaps it is just one or two words.  Meditate on these portions and ask God for wisdom to teach you.
Think of a time that God poured you out think about how that felt and who benefited from your sacrifice.