Running Over
Jean Bundas
“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full–pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” Luke 6:38
As I carefully measured out the ingredients to make a batch of yummy caramel puffs, I suddenly realized I didn’t have enough corn syrup to complete the recipe. I weighed my choices. I could run to the store and buy some more, wait for another day after I’d gone grocery shopping, or I could believe God to multiply my resources.
I chose to pray.
The bottle was empty. I tipped it over the cup and prayed, “God, please multiply this corn syrup just as you did the oil in the Bible story. The syrupy liquid began to drizzle out and the level in the cup rose. I was still short the amount I needed when a thought crossed my mind, “I think I have enough to get by.”
“Don’t you believe I can fill the cup,” I heard the Lord’s still small voice asking me. I assured Him I did and continued to pray and watch as the corn syrup filled my cup. When the cup was full, I thanked the Lord and continued on with the recipe.
As I prepared for church the next day, the Lord brought that experience back to mind. He began to speak to me of the different ways we approach Him. There are those that see Him as “not enough,” they don’t believe God is big enough, strong enough, or real enough to meet their needs, so they turn to other things to try and fill that void. Then, just as I had been willing to stop believing for my cup to be full, there are those that want “just enough” of God to get by. They believe in Him and they want to spend eternity with him. However, they are willing to compromise. They only want “just enough” to assure they are going to heaven, but they are not all in. Thirdly, there are those who want a relationship with God that is adequate. They are filled up, and satisfied, but not running over.
There is another option available to us!
”… pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap…” Wow!
God showed me how He desires to have a relationship with us where we are so full of Him, that we spill over onto everyone we touch. This type of relationship doesn’t always come because we “feel” like it. It is a choice to press in to Him, to sit at His feet, and to have fellowship with Him as we go about our day.
“Abba Father, Daddy God – thank you that you desire for us to know you and to be known by you. Thank you that we can be your hands and feet wherever you place us. I see in my spirit a ground that is hard and cracked from lack of water. I ask that you will water the ground of those that are feeling weary – the cracked and the broken. Fill us up Lord God, that we may ‘drip’ the glory of your presence as we go about our day. I thank you that you are filling up your vessels even as they read this. Increase the desire in your people to know you more. Glory! In Jesus name, amen.”
