A Drink Offering

Philippians 2:17 “Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.”

Twice in Paul’s epistles he describes his life as being poured out as a drink offering. Once in his letter to the church in Philippi and the other in his second letter to Timothy. He tells the church of Philippi that he would be glad to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of their faith. Visualize a drink being poured out completely over something, not a drop left. Indeed, Paul was willing to pour himself out completely.

Have you ever given of yourself so much that there’s nothing left. No energy, no resources, no words. You gave all you had and all of you. Many parents and caretakers can empathize with this as we give our our attention, our time, our love, our hearts, our knowledge, and share all we have with our children or those we are taking care of. We do it gladly and willingly without having to be asked because we do it out of love. Paul too, was willing to give everything he could give to the church. He was willing to pour out all of his life for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus.

Not only is this tremendously inspiring and a call to action for the rest of believers, but how much more do we see that Jesus poured out His own life, His own blood, His own body for our sins. He poured out all of Himself for us. He was the lamb without blemish, an innocent Man, the Son of God, completely sinless, falsely accused, and crucified not for His wrongdoings, but for the wrongdoings of others.

Matthew 26:26-28 “Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’”

Are we willing to be poured out as a drink offering for the sake of Christ as He poured Himself out for us?