Well for me, today will complete one week of my fast. And to be honest, I'm not really hungry all the time but more like empty. But recently I've been thinking that empty is how God really wants us. Let me show you what has led me to that conclusion and see if you end up in the same place.
A couple of months ago, I felt led to reread the accounts of Jesus’ last supper. Some Rob Bell quote I saw someone tweet about I think. In both Matthew’s and Mark’s versions, it lands in the same chapter as the woman anointing Jesus with perfume. This time when I read them, the parallels between her story and the last supper leaped off the pages.
The woman broke her jar and poured out all of her perfume. She poured out everything that was of value to her—both her past savings and her future earning potential. Breaking her jar effectively eliminated her option of being able to keep any for herself. Then or later. She gave everything she had—past, present, and future—to Him. Jesus said that people would remember her remarkable love forever.
Then at the last supper, those same words appeared again: He broke His body and poured out His blood for us. This time when I read Jesus saying, “Do this in remembrance of me,” I didn’t see him referring just to crackers and grape juice. I'm not trying to diminish the importance of communion, but that's not what it said to me this time. He was beckoning me to do what He was doing: to be broken and poured out. Go all in. Hold nothing in reserve. Completely relinquish control. That’s what would truly commemorate what Jesus did. Not cherishing a ritual, but being a memorial. To live my life broken and poured out.
I realized He’s been whispering this to me for some time. For years, my husband’s favorite verse has been from John 6. Jesus had just finished teaching, “Eat my flesh. Drink my blood. Live like I’m showing you.” Everyone left—except the Twelve. Verses 68-69 hold Peter’s profound response: “Where else would we go? You’re the Christ.”
So that’s it then. Although I’m still discovering what that looks like, now I have no other options. I must live broken and poured out. And I may be wrong, but I suspect that’s a calling that may apply to all of us.
What would “broken and poured out” look like in your life?
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2 comments:
Broken and poured out----
Going against the grain--Living counter-culturally---going upstream, when everyone else is floating down---Come out from the world and be seperate---
Take up your cross and follow Jesus---whether anyone else understands why or not----Man, let's take up the mantra of the old hymn, WHEREVER HE LEADS I'LL GO!!!! I'll follow my Christ who loves me so!!
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!
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