Fill 'er Up.

Thursday, May 05, 2011
Fill ‘er Up. This past Saturday we loaded up 24 of us from our student ministry and headed to Vilonia to help with clean up efforts. It was a powerful and heartbreaking experience for all of us. It was especially tough for me as that is my hometown. It hurts to see your hometown hurting like that. I felt the huge burden to help in any way I can. The recovery and rebuilding are far from over, and I pray God allows us to help much more in the process of the coming days/weeks/months.
When we began helping to clean up one yard with the property owners, one of our students came up to me. This student has only been saved for a matter of weeks, and his perspective is refreshing because his heart is still very soft and compassionate. I wish we all had a heart like this young guy. What he said to me hit me pretty hard, and has made a lasting impression on me that I likely won’t ever forget. It was so simple yet so profound.
“Hey Blake, do you feel that?” “Do I feel what?” “Do you feel that?” I thought it might have started to rain or something. “Do I feel what, man?” And then he said it – words from a new believer that brought me close to tears: “It feels like something is filling my heart up.”
He gets it. We serve Christ by serving people, and that does something to us. When a person gives their heart to Christ by asking Him to forgive their sin and be their Savior and Lord, a change takes place. The Bible says that at the very moment of conversion, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in the heart and life of that new believer. But having the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and living a life full of the Holy Spirit aren’t necessarily the same thing.
God wants us to live FULL of Him every day! However, in order to be FULL of His Holy Spirit, we must be renewing ourselves in Him daily through prayer and Bible reading. We’ve also got to be “loving our neighbor as ourselves” while we “love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, and strength.” You can’t separate those two commands – they are escapably linked forever.
Loving our neighbor is about more than words – it’s about action. It’s almost as if the lost world is saying to us, “So ya love me? Prove it.” And that’s just what Christ has called us to do.
So when we serve others, a filling does take place. It’s more than just an emotional moment. It’s more than just getting teary eyed. It’s more – so much more. And when we begin to live like that – well, that’s how the lost world gets found. Live full!

PS: If you’d like to donate to the tornado relief efforts one suggested group is the American Red Cross. I’ve seen first-hand that these folks will provide shelter and clothing to people who have lost homes in these types of situations. Visit http://www.redcross.org and click the link at the top of the page, “DONATE FUNDS.”



That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
blake

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