are you empty?

“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8, ESV).

Empty. Dictionary.com defines empty as "containing nothing; having none of the usual or appropriate contents: an empty bottle." Empty is void. To be empty means that something is missing. Isn't it interesting that a life can be so full...yet empty?

What does life without Christ (darkness) look like? How can one's life be full of things, yet never full of the one right thing- Jesus Christ? I don't think we talk enough about what it means to be lost.

Yesterday, we had lunch with our friends, Lisa and Bill. Lisa lost one eye to cancer 20 years ago. They have just removed invasive cancer from her other eye, yet were able to preserve the sight this time. In order for the eye to heal, Lisa's eye is stitched closed which means she will be blind for 6 weeks. We watched in amazement as she manueved things at church and lunch...all with a great attitude. She had to be led through the obstacle course of halls full of people, the restaurant at lunch, and trying to find food on her fork (carefully placed there by her husband). She has to depend on others for everything because she is in darkness. What we can see, she can't see. Oh, we take so much for granted.

That's how it is with someone who has an empty life. They can't see the obvious answers, the obstacle course in front of them, and can't even see the food on the plate. Their lives are full of things but those things have no meaning. They need someone to interpret them, they need someone to show them the way. They need someone to help them know what a full and meaningful life with Christ looks like.

This year, let's talk about what it means to be lost. And let's commit to helping those with empty lives to fill them with the right thing - the love of Jesus Christ. Let's be gifted2go!

Will you join me?

 

empty life

"For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are His creation—created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:8-10, HCSB).


This week, I am finishing up the writing of session one of the eco: gifted2go launch package (the training course). I sure do covet your prayers and your input! As I think about this first chapter on grace and salvation, I cannot help but be thankful to God for the gift of Jesus Christ.

Many times we are given gifts and don't even appreciate them. Maybe it is a birthday gift or a Christmas gift, but we don't realize the time it took or the price the person had to pay for the gift. We may even like the gift but we take it for granted.

I admit that there have been times in my life when I have not appreciated the price that Jesus paid for my sins. I have not understood the sacrifice that God made by sending Jesus to die on the cross for me. He died to cover my wrongdoing and to give me entrance into heaven. He is there every single minute of every day to listen to me and to guide me. Is it too much to ask for me to share the gift of Jesus with others? I think not. It should be what I live for every day.

My life would be empty without Christ. What about your life?

• What makes life empty?
• How does God fill your life?
• What do I need to include in chapter one on Ephesians 1 and 2?

I would love to hear from you. I would love for you to pray for me this week as I seek Him and allow Him to write through me.