Fill 'Er Up!

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” 1 Peter 1:18-19

The loud pinging reminder from the fuel gauge encouraged me to brave the chilly wind this morning and stop by the gas station. The warm days of “full service” when I could roll up to the pump, roll down the window, and simply say “Fill ‘er up!” are past, and left in their place are cold, impersonal transactions between me, my credit card, and the gas pump. But I had to stop. My only other option was to continue traveling on empty – unable to get anywhere fast and unconfident about actually getting anywhere!

Many people live in a similar way – powerless to engage as they should and unsure about arriving at their desired destination. They live life on EMPTY. Their calendars might be packed, their portfolios loaded, and their closets crammed, but their hearts are empty – void of peace, joy, or hope.

As Christ-followers, we are not to live that way. Peter reminds us that we have been rescued from an empty life by the blood of Jesus. “For you know that it was not with perishable things…that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers…” The Jewish Christians reading Peter’s letter had been taught piles of tradition mixed with partial truth, and they lived as legalists. The non-Jewish Christians had been brought up devoted to pagan deities and practices, and they lived like heathens. Both left those following full of fear and empty of faith.

But then came “the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” Jesus was the perfect sacrifice, sufficient to redeem us all – to free us from an empty life and to fill us with Himself.

The next time you find yourself “getting low” or “running on empty,” take a trip back to the cross. Let the truth of God’s grace and the reality of the redemption fill you up with hope and peace. And may you overflow with joy!



Time for a Little R&R

RECOGNIZE
How “filled-up” do you honestly feel today?
Where might there be a leak in your tank?

RESPOND
If you’re living on FULL – praise God and thank Him for His great gifts!
If you’re leaning toward EMPTY – know that your Father delights in filling up His children, so ask Him for what you need.