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Thursday, Jan 5
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DEVOTIONAL: “GROWTH THROUGH FILLING”
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Two days ago, we looked at our need to “empty” ourselves of self: self-focus, self-protection, self-assurance, etc. Part of the process of emptying includes the spiritual discipline of confession, which you hopefully engaged in yesterday. (If not, go back and do yesterday’s devotional.)
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While it is wise to engage in the spiritual practice of confession regularly, it isn’t helpful to continually remain there. To get stuck in constant confession is to deny the transforming power of the gospel and the ability of God’s Holy Spirit to work in your life. Just as an acorn doesn’t solely grow roots, you shouldn’t solely seek to be emptied.
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Rather than live in a constant state of emptying, we need to be emptied in order to move into today’s topic: filling.
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In today’s reading, the Apostle Paul wrote to the Jesus-followers in Ephesus to empty themselves of all different types of selfish sins (5:1-18a) so that they might “be filled by the Spirit” (5:18b). This idea of being “filled” isn’t just a common theme in Ephesians (see 1:23, 3:19, & 4:10), nor just in Paul’s writing (see Romans 15:13, Philippians 1:9-11, & Colossians 1:9), but a theme throughout all of Scripture.
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God’s goal isn’t to empty you and leave you vacant. Rather, your emptiness should create a vacuum for His righteousness. He wants to fill you with His Spirit and all His fullness (Ephesians 3:19), because if you are filled with His Holy Spirit, you will “love like Jesus loved and live like Jesus lived,” seeing the gospel grow within you.
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Heavenly Father, please fill me to overflowing with your Holy Spirit, so that your wisdom, power, grace, and character might pour out of me on to those around me.
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Feel free to open your Notes app to write down a thought or two from today's reading or write out your own prayer.
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