“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10
I posted on Facebook about my gas tank. My literal gas tank in the Prius that I drive. I so rarely need gas in it that I inevitably drive it until the gas light comes on and it’s running on fumes. I’ve never done this with any other car, yet since I’ve started driving a Prius, I am constantly letting it get to low.
I made a joke about how I need to put a reminder on my calendar to fill my tank so this wouldn’t happen. It occurred to me in the moments after posting it that we do the same thing with God. We let our tanks get too low. We forget to fill them up and then we find ourselves running on fumes. The only problem is, we don’t have a warning light that tells us to get to the fuel pump.
Or do we and we just ignore them, like I ignore my fuel meter in my car?
Could the warning light in our lives be the irritation we feel with the people around us? The tiredness we feel? The lack of hope? These things creep into our lives and we just accept them as status quo. Yet that isn’t how God wants us to live our lives. Jesus came so we can have life and have it to the fullest.
I am convinced that is why we need to make time with God a priority. It needs to be on our calendar and we need to make it happen. I believe it should be daily. In one 24 hour period, your tank can hit empty. We need to be refueling daily.
Why else would so many devotionals be called “Daily Bread”?
“Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.” Exodus 16:4
This verse comes from Exodus, when Moses is leading the Israelites out of Egypt and slavery. God is very specific that they are only to gather enough for that day. The only exception is Saturday, when they gather enough for two days because of the Sabbath.
It’s interesting, the people don’t listen. They take too much at first. By the next morning, the extra is full of worms and inedible. God said only take enough for that day.
Aren’t we the same as the Israelites? Don’t we want to fuel up in church on Sunday and expect that to keep our tank full for the entire week?
That’s not enough. We need more than that if we want to keep our tank full. We need to “top off” daily.
For me, it’s first thing in the morning. That’s my time to open my Bible and read. It’s my time to thank God for what He has done and what He is doing. It’s my time to dedicate my life to Him once again. Turn it all over and pray He can make something of my humble efforts.
For you it might be at lunch. It could be in the car on the drive to work as you listen to the Bible or a podcast. It could be in the evening or right before bed.
It doesn’t matter what time of the day it happens, it just matters that it happens. If we want to live life to the fullest, we can only do that by staying connected to the fuel. Finding ways to re-fuel daily is the key. Whether through reading God’s word, listening to worship music or a podcast, or spending time with another Christ follower. One thing is certain, once a week on Sunday is not enough to keep your tank full.
Check your gas tank, is it time to head to the gas station?
Filling the tank
