1 Thessalonians 1:9 - Filling the Vessel

1 Thessalonians 1:9 "for they themselves keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the true and living God." (NLT)

I've learned in life that everyone has a story to tell. Sometimes the story brings joy to a person's heart who hears it ...........sometimes it brings tears to the eyes..............sometimes we see ourselves having traveled a similar path and that generates a sense of kinship.

There are always paths that I look back on and wish I hadn't walked down........paths that led me to what seemed to be exciting from far off............only to find that further on down the path, not only did the luster dull..........in some cases the world around me became ugly............desperate............hopeless.

Before the Lord came into my life in a personal way, I was running after just about anything that would get me a temporary rush of excitement. I was running after the idols of this world hoping those things would satisfy the hunger I had in me for substance to my life.

I was searching for meaning to life.............yes, I knew there was a God out there somewhere............but I never could feel His Presence.........and that was what I was really after...........something...........someone to fill this aching void within my spirit that I just couldn't fill with anything in this world.

What was missing in my life was what only the Lord could bring to me..............an intense feeling that there was a bigger......more permanent reality that was there just beyond the veil between life and death. It was there I would feel complete because I was back home......back with Family............back with my Creator..........my God.............my King.

And when someone tells *my* story, I hope they tell about the intense love I have for my Lord............I hope they forget the part where I was chasing after idols.

When they remember me in my story, I really hope it isn't me they speak about, but instead I hope they speak about the Lord's Spirit filling this vessel of flesh..........doing His Work.............reaching out to those around me with His Love.

Because it is then I'll know I'll have done what He's set out for me to do. And that's all that matters to me anymore.

Love in Jesus,

Jim

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"But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired." (1 Corinthians 12:18 NASB)

"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Copyright 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission."

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This devotional was originally posted on CCI-Devo - Daily Group Devotionals on December 5, 2003 in post #420. It was written by Jim Ross, a former United Pentecostal Church member, who attends Christian Challenge International, the sponsor of the devotional group. The devotional is the copyright of Jim Ross and is reprinted on this site by permission.

Page added April 17, 2006

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