Imitators of Christ

(our theme for October)

Colossians 2:6-7 (NIV)

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,  rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  

One day this past scorching summer, I was filling a large watering can in order to water the potted flowers on my back porch.  I had set the can in my kitchen sink, which is near the back door, positioned the faucet over the top of the can, and turned on the water.  While the can was filling, I stepped back onto the porch to deadhead my flowers.  

I was unaware that when I had set the watering can in the sink, its spout was positioned  over the edge.  When I returned to the kitchen, just a moment too late to turn off the faucet, water was flowing out of that spout and onto the floor like a fountain.  

That’s how it is when something overflows, isn’t it?  One moment the container is simply full.  The next moment the contents are spilling out everywhere, pouring over the edges and into the surrounding space.

I want to be like that watering can, to receive Christ with gratitude until Christ fills my very being, spills over the edges and pours forth like a fountain into the spaces all around me.  I think this verse suggests that if Christ truly lives in me–if I receive Christ fully, not only will Christ live in me but Christ will spill out over all my edges, so that I live in Christ and overflow with gratitude.

Let us pray: 

Lord Jesus, come live in me, that I may live in you.  Fill me to overflowing such that your goodness and grace spill out over my edges, pouring blessings into all the spaces I enter this day.  My heart overflows with gratitude for your love and mercy.  Amen.

This devotional was written and recorded by Greta Smith.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.