But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. Philippians 2:17
Some women speak 20,000 words a day; I write them. Many days I feel as if I am “being poured out” through my writing—all the way out. It seems my jar should be empty by now, but somehow, it keeps getting replenished with passion and the ability to keep pouring into waiting hearts.
I wondered, what is a drink offering? It began in the Old Testament, often offered with lambs of sacrifice. I found this verse in John 6:55-56:
“For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.”
Jesus’ blood was the ultimate drink offering, poured out for mankind. We must “drink” of this blood to have true fellowship with Him. We must partake of the forgiveness offered through His blood, shed for our lives.
Paul also claimed that his life was being poured out, also as a “drink offering.” Was he out of line? Was he laying claim to something that could only be true of Christ? In Galatians 2:20, Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”
The drink offering of Paul’s expression was the lifeblood of Jesus, being poured out through him. As we partake of the blood of Christ in our daily lives, we put our own lives to death, and Christ is able to live and reign through us to replenish others. This is why Paul was continually replenished to do his work. This is why I also get replenished to pour more words onto paper every day.
What are your gifts? What is your calling? Is your life a drink offering being poured out for others? The only way we can truly experience this miraculous phenomenon of continually pouring out the lifeblood and passion of Christ for the sake of others, is by being connected to the Vine on a daily basis. Empty hearts and lives are waiting…