Philippians: 111 Full

“Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:11

I’ve been an empty pitcher,

All drained and dusty too,

For trying to get fuller,

Has only cracked me too.

A cracked and broken vessel—

What good thing can it do?

But God has something special,

In mind for me and you.

God made us to have fulness,

Up to the very brim.

He wants to right our chaos,

And fill us up with Him.

But He can’t pour His treasure

Where something else resides.

For vain and empty pleasure

Will fill, and crack the sides.

Then idol after idol,

Surrender them to Christ.

And this, alone is possible,

Through what He sacrificed.

And as we yield those prizes,

He’ll mend our shattered cup,

And give us sweet surprises,

For He will fill us up.

Notable Curtains and Eternal Surprises

      With mounting anticipation, after months of waiting and hours of travel, the final scheme is set. FaceTime from the closet, behind new curtains. Notable curtains.

      Exuberant suspense. 

      Ready. 

      “I talked to Grandpa the other day…” my brother began in his most noble attempt at nonchalant composure. “He is thinking about buying a car…”

      Wow! It didn’t take them long! I think, poised behind those long, brown pieces of fabric. Here they come. My breath almost stops in mid air. 

      “Oh, look. These are our new curtains.” My sisters pause to note the newly hung drapery.

      Forget FT. The time had come. Those noteworthy curtains whoosh back. 

Priceless. Absolutely. Priceless. 

      • • • • •

      My mind is drawn back through the centuries. Another surprise. A bigger surprise. Centuries of waiting, not weeks. 

     That time though, there was not instant recognition. That time, those who had been told that One was coming, the ones who should have been there when He arrived weren’t. In fact, it was as if they were the ones at home, oblivious of what was happening, and those who had not been told were seeking Him. 

      Can you imagine? Heaven has been breathlessly waiting… The time has come… The curtain is about to be drawn away from the character of God. He is about to be revealed in reality. 

      And they are unconscious of it. The gift is undiscerned.

      • • • • •

      My mind speeds forward. Another surprise. Centuries of waiting passed. He is coming again. We have been told. The world will have been told. Still, some will be surprised. 

      But those who wait. They will know. Instant recognition. 

Priceless. Absolutely. Priceless.