Josiah Road

“Who Ordered The Chef’s Salad?”

posted by Mike Blackaby 30Dec

When I was younger, my parents didn’t have much money. Their luxurious seminary apartment (which doubled as a roach hotel) was in desperate need of Ty Pennington to drop in and film an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. However, the one object that seemed to turn this “house” into a “home” was a small potted plant. It brought life and color into an ordinary abode. The problem was it also made great salads. At least, to a toddler it did!

I had a nasty habit of pulling the leaves off this poor plant; a practice my father was determined to drive out of me. “Michael,” he told me, “Do not touch this plant. Do you understand me?” I drooled and nodded my head. But before I could stop myself I reached out and grabbed the leaves! My dad quickly seized the guilty appendage and slapped it, leaving me with a not-so-friendly reminder of our recent conversation. Although a smarter child may have learned his lesson at this point, the plant held my attention. Immediately I reached out with my still functioning left hand and touched it a second time. WHACK! With a newfound understanding of Adam and Eve’s temptation, I defiantly looked up at my father. With tears in my eyes and a scowl on my face, I forced myself into one final act of rebellion. It was my physical condemnation of the ruling authorities in my life! I slowly bent forward, and backed my way into the plant, only to be met with a third and final spanking. To this day, my father still chuckles about this incident, and I still cringe when I see potted shrubbery.

I have learned similar life lessons over the years and this year hasn’t been any different. The year 2008 is quickly drawing to a close and New Years is fast approaching. It is a humbling experience for me to look back over an entire year and evaluate the way I invested my life. What can I point to today that is a result of what I did yesterday? Is the world any better of a place because I lived in it during 2008? What did I devote my time to? The recent economic situation provides a stark reminder of how fragile a life based on money is. Ephesians 5:15-17 says this: “Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” When I was a toddler I had a room full of toys and parents who loved me, yet I wasted my time with a plant that only produced negative consequences. I have grown older, but do I act wiser? God sees the year 2009 and He knows exactly how to maximize my life. However, am I seeking His will or am I wasting my time with lesser things? I hope and pray that my life brings glory to God in 2009. That would be a life well spent.

Empty Vessels

posted by Lisa Huddleston 29Dec

“‘Go and borrow empty containers from everyone—from all your neighbors. Do not get just a few. … pour oil into all these containers’. … When they were full, she said to her son, ‘Bring me another container.’ But he replied, ‘There aren’t any more.’ Then the oil stopped.”
2 Kings 4:3-4, 6

Empty is an adjective. Empty jars. Empty hands. Empty hearts. Empty pages. Hollow, aching, empty vessels … waiting to be filled, waiting for rain from heaven, waiting for oil from God’s provision. Yet, isn’t that just what a useful vessel should be? Empty? How can a jar hold oil unless it is empty? If hands and hearts are hanging on to material things, they cannot be held by the love of God. If it is already full, a page cannot be written upon. That is why Elisha told the widow to ask for all the empty jars she could find. He wanted her to be able to receive as much of God’s blessing as she could hold. As soon as she ran out of empty containers, the oil stopped flowing.

It’s the same in our lives. When we are too busy with the things of this world, with full calendars and full of ourselves, we don’t have room for God or the blessings He wants to pour into our lives. We rush from place to place with our ear buds buzzing, barely finding time to throw a glance toward heaven or to offer thanks over our fast food, which we eat in our cars between appointments. Our heads, hands, and hearts are full of noisy, hurried activity that consumes nearly all that we are. Thank goodness, empty is also a verb. We can empty the trashcan or our calendars or our hearts. We can deliberately pour out the world and empty ourselves of emptiness. We can make room for time with God, direction from His Word, and the oil of blessing He is waiting to pour into us. Incredibly, the oil will not stop flowing until we run out of room to receive it!

“Go and borrow empty containers … Do not get just a few.” And, remember, it’s not the container that is the important thing. It’s the content that matters! The oil of blessing from God. I am sure the widow received all sorts of jars from her neighbors: beautiful vases, ugly pots, jars with lids, and cups with cracks and chips. What mattered about each one was that they were empty and they were available to hold what God wanted to pour into them. Remember, empty is an adjective, but it is also a verb, a command telling us to make room for our God. He is boundless, and His provision is endless. We’ll need lots of room to contain what He offers us.

What do you need to empty to make room for God? Your calendar? Your heart? Your will? Whatever the vessel, it is the content that defines its purpose. God is waiting to fill you completely and then to keep filling you until you overflow. Empty yourself, lift your empty hands to Him, and praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Heavenly Father, You are the Giver of all good things. Show me what I need to empty out to make more room for You and then help me to do it. Please, fill me with more of You and overflow my heart with Your love to those around me. In Jesus’ name and for His glory, I pray. Amen.