Half Empty or Half Full?

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“ . . . . so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.”  — 2 Corinthians 4:15

It seems to be some sort of personality test—people ask “are you the sort of person who sees a glass as half empty or half full?”  That apparently is the gauge of whether you are pessimistic and cynical, or optimistic and hopeful.

But this Thanksgiving gives us a chance (once again) to check and see what the Bible has to say about our attitude.  We never find the words “half empty” or “half full”—but to be “overflowing.”

We are to be overflowing with praise:

“May my lips overflow with praise, for You teach me Your decrees.”  —Psalm 119:171

We are to be overflowing with hope:

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  —Romans 15:13

We are to be overflowing with love:

“May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.” —I Thessalonians 3:12

We are to be overflowing with comfort:

“For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.”  —2 Corinthians 1:5

We are to be overflowing with thanks:

“With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the One who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence.  All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.”  —2 Corinthians 4:13-15

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”  —Colossians 2:6,7

Taking this one important step further, we know that one cannot be “overflowing” unless one is “filled.”  So as Christians, what are we to be “filled” with?

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.  Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.  Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.  Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  —Ephesians 5:15-20

Being filled with the Holy Spirit, the gift from the Father at salvation, causes our hearts to be filled to overflowing with gratitude this Thanksgiving “for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Questions to Share:

  1. Deployment could cause our hearts to be hardened, but the Bible instructs us to be thankful.  Name two things for which you are grateful this year.
  2. Pray to have a heart of thankfulness for your spouse and for your circumstances, even during this time of geographic separation.
  3. If you want to know more about salvation through Jesus Christ, and being filled with the Holy Spirit, go to www.godlovestheworld.com and www.tenbasicsteps.org.

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