Puzzles and Pieces

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us is very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

-2 Peter 1:3-8

Greetings and God Bless,

I was talking with a friend over lunch today. The "cup" image was brought up today, and I find it to be an extremely good method for how to think about our spiritual lives. 

The "cup" image explained:

Look at yourselves as a goblet or cup. Christ will pour His Love into you

(through His word, His works, His people), 

and your cup will get to the point where it overflows.

 This overflow will flow into other people's cup, 

thus other people see, hear, and feel God's love in their lives, 

through said vessel for Christ. 

One aspect of the cup model that got brought up, that I usually don't think about while discussing the cup model, is the point of salvation--being born again. At the point where "Christ clicks" is the first time when your cup overflows. You have every desire to go directly to Christ, and to His believers to talk about Him! 

If you are believer, talking to a nonbeliever about Christ, remember that the nonbeliever's cup does not have plastic wrap over the top of it. Christ's love will not hit said plastic and spill to the floor. The cup will slowly start to be filled, until salvation--when the cup will overflow for its very first time. Just remember, that Christ's love will never stop flowing. 

Also, without fellowship we find our cups to be on empty, which effects all other parts of our life: the physical, emotional, mental. Our spiritual lives encompass, and therefore effects, all other parts of our lives. We just have to continually love Him through everything that we do. So that we might be quenched! We are the Body of Christ! Christ created a body of believers for a reason. Every part is important, and every part must be functioning. 

Be devoted to one another 

in brotherly love.

Honor one another above yourselves.

Romans 12:10

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

-1 Corinthians 10:16

For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.

-1 Corinthians 12:12