DAY 8

LOW ON FUEL

MATT CIARAMITARO, GENERATIONS PASTOR, THE WOODS CHURCH

Fuel is an essential part of our lives. Whether it’s food for our bodies or gas for our cars, fuel is something everyone can relate to. I have noticed a couple of contrasting practices in my life when it comes to fuel.

When it comes to my truck, I rarely fill it up. Seriously, I fill it up no more than once a month. I’m pretty sure I should qualify for some sort of insurance discount, because I put on average 4,000 miles a year. The problem with that is, I can drive for days with the gas light on. Yep, since church is only about a mile away, I rarely go beyond a one-mile radius. I live day to day, knowing I can put off refueling just a little longer.

Alternatively, when I go on one of my adventure trips, I always start with a brand new canister of fuel for my JetBoil (a JetBoil is a cool little gas stove designed to boil water in under 60 seconds.) There is no way I am going out into the wilderness with a partial can. In my garage, I have a bin full of gear, and you can find tons of spare cans that are partially used, marked in Sharpie: ¼, ½, or ¾ full. Would they work? Probably, but it’s not worth the risk.

If I run out of gas in my truck, it’ll be annoying, maybe a little embarrassing. If I run out of gas in the wilderness, I don’t eat.

I think many of us get caught treating our spiritual fuel the same way. When it comes to our ordinary grind we try to get by with what we have, without worrying about topping off. We live as if we don’t require new fuel. When something special comes around - a ministry assignment, serving opportunity, leadership role, small group night, conference, or retreat - we then feel the need to make sure we are ready.

As we look at Scripture, there are multiple examples of God wanting His people to be filled with fresh fuel, treating every day like a grand adventure. We see God’s intention for this in the Old Testament through His instructions for priestly duties.

The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it. The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out. Leviticus 6:12–13

This simple physical task was a spiritual reminder of how they should live every day, adding new fuel to the fire. As we look even deeper, we understand the original fire was supernatural, and if it wasn’t cared for properly, it was at risk of being corrupted. Also, even though the fire persists throughout the evening, the morning fire is singled out because that’s when the altar was cleansed of its old ashes and “a new fire” made.  Cool, Pastor Matt. We should add fresh fuel to our fire, but what does that look like practically? In Matthew, Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 8:3, which says,

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

The fuel we so desperately need is the voice of God. One word from the Lord can sustain us better than any protein bar ever could. Today as you spend time with the Lord, determine to refuel as if your life depended on it. Don’t settle for running on empty and just getting by. Sit before the Lord and ask Him for His divine direction, listen for his still small voice, and let his words fill you up today.

PRAYER: Jesus. As I sit before You today, all I desire is to hear Your voice. Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening. God, Your words are a lamp for my feet, and a light on my path. Your word is my greatest need. Your word sustains me. As I sit in the stillness of waiting, my ears are open.