REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, written by Pastor Sam Lee who leads Catalyst Agape Church in Northern New Jersey, was first posted on October 30, 2013.  He is a graduate of University of Wisconsin (BA) and Biblical Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Overflow”

Psalm 23:5-6 (NIV) 

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

One of my regular prayers has been for my life to “overflow”; overflow of His presence, overflow of His love, overflow of His peace so that all His goodness would spill over from my life to bless others.  In the same way that the sight of a banqueting table overflowing with delicious food would satisfy a hungry person, the wedding guests at Cana were overflowing with satisfaction as a result of the miracle performed there.  When wine ran out, Jesus told the servant to pour water into empty water jars to the very brim, where one more drop of water would make it overflow. When he obeyed, water turned into the greatest tasting wine.  

As John records this account, he lets the readers know that this was the first miraculous sign Jesus performed.  Among several applications that can be drawn from this story, one is this: Jesus supplied abundant and choice wine to this ordinary wedding so that the host would not be embarrassed and the guests could enjoy themselves; this is to say, Christ truly cares about our lives.

It’s interesting to see the parallel between Psalm 23 and the Gospel of John where Jesus proclaims, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (Jn. 10:11). David, who was a shepherd himself, describes the Lord as a caring Shepherd, who leads the sheep to gentle streams and green pastures.  And that is exactly why Jesus came, that we might experience that exciting, abundant life in Him: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (Jn. 10:10). 

God wants our lives to be overflowing with his love and goodness even in the midst of hardships and troubles. He knows every one of us so well and deeply cares for us, and even when one of us is lost, He is in desperate pursuit to find us; and when He does, He celebrates.  That’s because He is the good Shepherd.  

Prayer:  Father, we express our desires for more of You, to overflow in the Spirit.  Help us to walk each day in the abundance of Your presence.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Esther 8