WEEK 37 – DAY 3

POURED OUT

Even if [my lifeblood] must be poured out as a libation on the sacrificial offering of your faith [to God], still I am glad [to do it] and congratulate you all on [your share in] it: And you also in like manner be glad and congratulate me on [my share in] it.” Philippians 2:17-18 (AMP

“She poured herself into….” Complete the sentence. It is descriptive of giving one’s all in pursuit of a goal or a pleasure. How would you fill in that blank to describe yourself? The apostle Paul poured himself into bringing people closer to God. He was willing and ultimately did pour out his life’s blood to further the spread of the gospel. He continued to minister even while in prison, whether well provided for or barely surviving. He viewed himself as the drink offering poured over the burnt offering which was the faith of the Philippians. Moreover, he was glad to be pouring his life into the Philippians and the many other churches he had a part in establishing. Has someone poured his or her life into yours by leading you to know Jesus or by discipling you? The best way you can thank that person is to give of yourself to a brother or sister as well. The mantra of evangelism is “each one, reach one.”  In discipleship it is “each one, teach one.” I was blessed to participate in a small discipleship group when I was in my twenties. As we would complete a Bible study booklet, our leaders would encourage us to find two people we could lead through that step in the program. Then they would take us to the next level. As we moved to level three, we were to teach level two to our two friends and encourage them each to find two friends to begin level one. My desire to memorize God’s word comes from that experience. A solid foundation of Bible study was laid in my life through the pouring out of Keith and Kathy. The book you are reading is in part a result of their faithfulness to teach others what the Lord had taught them. Susan and I honor all who invested in us with each blog post or book we write and each time we share in person.

Father, show us how to wisely invest our lives in others. Help us to honor the people who poured into us by, in turn, helping others to “know You and make You known”.