Wednesday, April 26, 2017

"The Overflowing Cup"

"The Overflowing Cup"           
     
   You've heard the old adage: some people view the cup as half full, and some as half empty.  Neither applies to born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.

  "My cup runneth over" (Psalm 23:5).

   Whatever our personality traits and disposition, our Heavenly Father calls us to overcome our natural inclinations by replacing them with the truth of His Word.  The Lord Jesus Christ promised abundant life to all who trust in Him (John 10:10).  Whether we experience such overflowing bounty depends on our chosen confidence in God and His truth.  The more we know our Lord, the more we experience the superlatives of grace so frequently affirmed in the Bible.

   "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think." (Ephesians 3:20).
   "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3).
   "His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue" (II Peter 1:3).
   "Things present, or things to come, all are yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's" (I Corinthians 3:22-23).
   "Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory" (I Peter 1:7-8).

   The list could go on and on regarding the overflowing cup of goodness provided to God's trusting children.  We cannot fully imagine the extent of such grace, nor can we ask in terms that match the provision God purposes to supply in Christ.  I rejoice in such truth because my natural disposition strongly tends toward the "cup half empty" perspective.  Earlier this morning, I thanked our Heavenly yet again for leading me to faith in His Son because I cannot imagine the depths of despair into which I would have plummeted without the Lord Jesus.  I still face the challenge of my natural tendencies, but the Holy Spirit continues His faithful work to remind me of the overflowing cup.  We do not always feel as if such Truth is true, and outward evidence may seem to belie the abundance of Christ.  Indeed, sometimes the cup seems not only half empty, but completely desolate and shattered on the floor.  We therefore "judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24).  God's promise is certain, His provision abundant, and we must rejoice in His love that "passeth knowledge" (Ephesians 3:19).

   Somewhere in this moment, some believer sees a cup that for all the world looks empty and even shattered.  The Spirit of God and the Word of God, however, proclaim that the cup overflows regardless of evidence, emotion, or natural disposition.  Perhaps through tears, that believer opens the eyes of the heart to see the the overflowing cup despite every appearance or feeling to the contrary.  Whatever our natural tendency, we overcome by faith in the grace of God that "much more abounds" (Romans 5:20).

"But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior;  that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
(Titus 3:4-7)

Weekly Memory Verse 
"Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me: for Thou art the God of my salvation; on Thee do I wait all the day."
(Psalm 25:5)
   
 

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