Pour Yourself Out for Jesus

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labour in vain. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. (Phil 2:14-18)

God loves your heart and wants you to become more like Jesus. But how do we become more like Jesus? What did Jesus do to make people like him? Jesus gathered to himself some disciples and started to form them through the means of getting them to serve alongside him as He served. Jesus said disciples are to: take up their cross and follow him (Matt 16:24); give up everything (Luke 14:33); become servant of all (Mark 9:35); lose their life to find it (Matt16:25). Jesus said this because this is what He did. He does not ask us to do anything he himself has not done ahead of us. Through this, we find a life lost for Jesus is actually truly found in Him.

In Jesus, we see one who calls disciples to follow him and learn from Him. Philippians 2:8 says He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion [MSG]. Jesus poured himself out for me and did not hold back. I think he also expects the same from us in return. In Philippians, Paul carries the theme of Jesus pouring himself and encourages us all to pour ourselves out. He says I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith (Phil2:17).

Drink Offerings were literally poured out on an altar – there was no holding back, once poured out that was it! It seems wasteful to do such a thing. However, remember the special praise Jesus gave to the woman who broke the alabaster jar of very expensive perfume and poured it out upon Jesus’ feet? Jesus commended her: "She has done a beautiful thing to me. […] She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” (Matt26:10-13)

There needs to be a deliberate abandonment of our own limitations as we pour ourselves out to Jesus. There need not be any fear that as we pour ourselves out there will be nothing left for us because as we pour ourselves out God pours himself back into us. God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us (Rom 5:5). What a glorious dynamic. This is why we can safely pray less of ourselves and more of him. We can confidently declare, as John the Baptist did, I must decrease He must increase (John3:30). This is a kind of pouring out.

However, as we give ourselves over more fully to God we find another dynamic challenging us. Paul addresses this very thing that rises within our fallen and broken hearts and minds. Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. (Phil 2:14) If we are not careful we can find ourselves counting the cost, or quietly grumbling.

I remember, as a young Christian, serving the church I attended by setting up a room for a regular meeting. I wasn’t asked to do it but I responded to a need I clearly saw. I did it faithfully for nearly a year and then something started to creep into my thinking. I felt that no one noticed me or thanked me and I felt taken for granted. I started to quietly complain and grumble. I even chose not to set up the room one day to see if anyone noticed and they didn’t! How could they! Then the LORD started to gently show me I was ‘serving’ others to meet my own needs for affirmation and acceptance. I had lost sight of the fact that I was supposed to be serving Jesus joyfully and without counting the cost. I was to wait on Him and hear the only ‘well done good and faithful servant (Matt 25:21)’ that the soul ever needs to hear and is completely satisfying.

It is when our motives are pure that we start to shine among them [others] like stars in the sky. The abandoned heart shines the brightest, much like the woman with the alabaster jar who is still remembered to this day.

There is such joy to be found when serving with the right attitude. I have been humbled by the selfless way people have been offering themselves in service each week here, in the life of St Margaret’s. Thank you. May I encourage you to continue to give of your best. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal6:9)

If you have slightly held back for fear or resentment check your motives and then Take my [Jesus’] yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light (Matt11:29)

As you pour yourselves our may you find you are becoming fuller and not emptier. May His gracious presence fill you to overflowing so you can’t help but start pouring out.

Blessings

Fraser