The Word - Feb. 24, 2012 - DEVELOPING THE GRACE OF A CHRIST-FILLED LIFE

"From his earliest history, Moab had lived in peace, never going into exile. He is like wine that has been allowed to settle. He has not been poured from flask to flask, and his scent has not changed" (Jeremiah 48:11).

Jeremiah here takes an illustration from the art of wine-making to teach us that a life of ease does nothing to produce strength of character. Whenever wine is being fermented in casks or vats, the dregs settle to the bottom. If the wine is left undisturbed, it becomes unpalatable. So the vinter must pour out the wine from vessel to vessel, eliminating the impurities. When he does this, the wine develops strength, aroma, color, and flavor. In other words, it develops character.

Moab had lived a life of ease. He had never suffered the disruption of going into captivity. He had insulated himself from all trouble, trials and privation. The result was that his life was flat and insipid. It lacked fragrance. He lived life his own way with no thought for God whatsoever.

What is true of Moab and wine is also true of us. We need disruption, trials and tribulation in order to rid us of impurities, and to develop the graces of a Christ-filled life. Our tendency is to protect ourselves from anything that would be unsettling.

But God's will for us as His children is that in this life, "we will experience tribulation." Why? In order for us to not live life in our own strength but learn to be totally dependent on Him. When we understand what God is seeking to accomplish in our lives, it keeps us from being rebellious and teaches us submission and dependence.

"For Christ's sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with Him. Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize fow which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." (Philippians 3:8b-11).