What Fuels Your Tank?

Recently, it was time to cut the grass again; a never ending spring, summer and fall “adventure” for most of us in the deep-south. This time when I tried to start the lawn mower it was not cooperative at all. I pulled the crank several times and …. nothing. Then it would act as if it were going to start, sputter listlessly, and with heaving convulsions come to a faltering stop! Next I took the breather off and banged out all the dirt and grass that had collected and put it back on and repeated the laborious cranking process. Still it wouldn’t start. Afterwards I took the breather off once more, this time administering my magic elixir (Quick Start Engine Spray) and pulled feverishly on the crank! After much aggravation, sweat, irritation and incessant attempts the bothersome machine reluctantly fired off. It sputtered, spit and shook for a while and then finally (after much prayer and unpleasant thoughts) began to run efficiently! (Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!).

In retrospect there are probably several contributing factors that added to my exasperating experience, but the leading one was the quality of the gas. Last fall, rather late in the season, I purchased two five gallon containers of gasoline. I always purchase the “cheapest” available. I have been told by more knowledgeable individuals that this is probably not the wisest thing to do. The cheapest gas contains Ethanol, which in our humid environment collects water. Therefore water was collecting in my containers of gas and small engines are adverse to water in the fuel source. Solution….I either need to purchase fresh gas frequently, buy a higher octane or add in something that helps the water and fuel not separate and cause this problem.

As I was having this annoying problem with my lawn mower, I realized God had a spiritual truth hidden in my disgruntling experience. My fuel source was the problem. I eventually made the fuel work but it was after much displeasure and exhaustion. Had I addressed the fuel problem early on, I probably could have avoided much of the discomfort and exasperation. The fuel needed to be fresh!

As children of God we need a fresh filling with the right fuel, the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:15-18 says it this way.
“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….”

David Jeremiah in his study Bible comments on this passage.

God has numbered each person’s days (Ps. 90:10, 11; 103:15, 16; James 4:14). Because our lifetimes are limited, we should view each day as a precious gift to be lived wisely and according to the Lord’s will. His will is laid out in the guidelines He has given us in the Bible. Just as a person drunk on wine gives over control of his or her life to inebriation, so the Christian who is filled with the Spirit gives over control of his or her life to the Spirit. The command is in the present tense, which indicates that being filled with the Spirit is not a once-for-all experience but a continuous one.

As we approach the possible calling of a new pastor, may each of us be filled daily with the fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit. Individually and as the Body of Christ, may we seek His divine direction and inspiration in all we undertake. To do less than this, we will experience a constant state of sputtering, agitation, and inefficient living—not how God designed us to live.

Fuel up today! Romans 12:1-2.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind….(NIV)”

Keith

Share this post

Related posts

FOCUSED

One of the casualties of aging to which I find myself a victim is the dimming of the eyes.  Ecclesiastes 12 counsels the young person to remember God, their Creator, in their youth before the aging process takes over and various faculties, as listed in verses 1-7, are diminished.

Clear eyesight when we are young may be something we take for granted. However, as we age the realization that our vision is not as sharp as it once was takes hold. “Readers” become standard fare for all intricate tasks. Our once keen laser sharp focus is now blurry and in need of help to restore its youthfulness. That restoration is found through glasses or some sort of rejuvenating surgery. Especially in the early stages of this degenerative eye problem we may be able to fake it and get by, but eventually we must relent and do something to correct the problem.

There is a parallel between physical and spiritual vision. “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” was written in the early 20th century. The hymn writer, Helen Lemmel, was strongly influenced by the artist and later little-known missionary, Lilias Trotter. Miss Trotter started off as an aspiring artist but early on felt a call from God to reach the lost. She began her ministry by rescuing prostitutes from the streets of London. Later she went to Africa, without missionary funding, and served for over forty years. While there she penned a poem that would greatly influence the writing of the hymn “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.”  The poem was entitled “Focused: A Story and Song.” 

The poem centers around focusing one’s attentions fully and completely upon God. She writes that Satan knows that if a person uses all their powers of concentration on being led by God’s Spirit, they will have a great intensity and impact upon those to whom they are called to minister. Lilias Trotter, writing in a more formal use of the English language than we are accustomed, shares some timeless insights which could very easily have been written today but with a different accent. She writes: “Never has it been so easy to live in half a dozen good harmless worlds at once—art, music, social science, games, motoring, the following of some profession, and so on. And between them we run the risk of drifting about, the ‘good’ hiding the ‘best’ even more effectually than it could be hidden downright frivolity with its smothered heartache at its own emptiness.”

The “good” hiding the “best” leads us to emptiness.  Could this be true of us today especially as American Christians? Have we sought the “good” while missing the “best”? The chorus of the hymn, which we will be singing in worship this Sunday, says it best.

                Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face,                                                                                                                                        And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

Keith Pate

God Leads Us

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge…

God is Enough

Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.…