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(The Everlasting Way) The Joy of Being Poured Out

May 10, 2026 robuck4@aol.com Leave a comment

Studying the Bible on our porch on a mid‑spring afternoon, I sit in the soft light as the sun slips through the foliage on its way down the western sky. The ceiling fan turns lazily overhead, sending a gentle breeze across my face and bald head. 😊

My constant companion, Jack — our big Aussie puppy — is asleep at my feet. The air carries the sweet scent of jasmine blooms surrounding our front‑yard propane tank. From opposite corners of the property, northern cardinals call out their bright cheer‑cheer‑cheer (don’t be impressed; I have a bird‑ID app).

Just outside our porch door, the rhythmic murmur of water flowing over rocks in our man‑made mountain stream settles my soul.

I turn my thoughts back to scripture where I’ve been researching the drink offering, an ancient sacrifice of liquids to the Lord.

The Drink Offering

The other lamb you shall offer at twilight, and shall offer with it the same grain offering and the same drink offering as in the morning, for a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the Lord (Exodus 29:41).

The drink offering signified dedication and consecration to the Lord as an act of worship. Something valuable, like wine, was poured out unto the Lord.

I’m interested in the drink offering because of something Paul wrote in his letter to the church at Philippi. In this letter Paul speaks of joy when it comes to being poured out in loving service to his friends.

But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me (Philippians 2:17-18).

Just reading this brings me joy and hope in the fact that God’s eternal attributes transcend our circumstances.

Paul’s love for his spiritual children was so great that he was willing to give up his life for the higher goal of their growth in following Christ. Loving them this way gave him great joy, regardless of what he was facing, being in prison as he wrote.

And he knew the Philippian believers would experience the same joy as they wholeheartedly surrendered themselves in like manner in loving like Christ, regardless of what they might be facing. And we will as well.

Paul Learned it from Jesus

In the same chapter of his letter to the Philippians, Paul urges believers to follow Jesus in His example of obedient sacrificial love, even to the point of death.

He wrote: Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross (Philippians 2:5-9).

Christ, though equal with God, made Himself of no reputation in order to empty Himself out. He was obedient even to death for the sake of our souls.

This is the heart attitude Paul is encouraging us to have: being willing to pour ourselves completely out for the sake of those God has placed around us, and to love others as He’s loved us.

Jesus Showed the Way

On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus took the disciples’ feet and washed them, even those of Judas and Peter, whom He knew would betray and deny Him.

Afterwards, He told them, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

The new command Christ leaves us with is to love others as He has loved us. He showed this love by washing stinky feet and then dying on a cross for our sins.

Displaying this deep, sacrificial love of Jesus is how we’re to serve others, but we can’t love this way apart from abiding in Jesus. In fact, if we try, our efforts will be worthless. [1]

Love is a fruit of His Holy Spirit. [2] When we abide in His love and yield to His Spirit, we’re loving those He brings our way with His love.

The results, as well shall see, are astounding — remaining in His Love, complete Joy.

Prayer

Lord, receiving Your love and giving it away can never happen without the work of Your Spirit within me. Apart from You, I can do nothing. I don’t want to get in the way anymore. I desire to pour myself out for the spreading of Your love and joy.

Please keep me from focusing only on my duties. May the people You bring my way be my highest priority. May I love them with Your love and share with them the joy of faith in You.

Amen.

Reflections

When pouring out a liquid, unless it’s into another container, we surrender it. There’s no gathering it back. This is to be the posture of my surrender.

As I lay aside my own interests, the Holy Spirit invites me to join in a dance of love and joy. Rejoicing in my relationship with Jesus and the overflowing of His love to others, I can be freed from the pursuit of my own happiness.

I love what Jesus told His disciples shortly after He washed their feet.

Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. (John 15:9-12)

He tells us to remain in His love by loving others as He’s loved us. And when we do, His complete Joy is available to us.

Though many duties await us each day, we’re called to something higher — love.

As we perform our tasks, as we work to repair the brokenness around us, God will lead us to the people He wants us to love.

If completing our duties is our main priority, these people may seem like obstacles. However, in reality people are our priority, and loving them produces an eternal joy which far outweighs our circumstances.

Even if we’re called to be poured out as drink offerings for the people God calls us to love, we can do so with great joy.

Lord, who do you want to love through me today?

Quote

“You do not pour your life into your work; your work is the overflow of your life,” Oswald Chambers

[1] John 15:5

[2] Galatians 5:22-23

Note: Unless otherwise noted, all referenced Scripture is from the NASB 1995 Version of the Bible.

Other posts in our Everlasting Way Series:

Learning How to Overcome Emotional Numbness

Embracing God’s Amazing Love

Are we More Like Batman or Spider-Man

Transforming Awareness: The Power of God’s Love

Minding Your Busyness

Our Deepest Longings Filled

Rules Don’t Rule

Mice in the Sock Drawer

Turning Gainers into Drainers

Until the Darkness Fades

Courage Rising

Recovering

Celebrating with Joy – In Memory of a Friend

Dying to Self

Loving without Expecting Anything in Return

We are Barabbas

Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God’s nearness in the midst of life’s adventures.

Subscribe to get email notifications of new posts. We post a few times a month. Thank you for reading.

Rob Buck

Nonfiction books by the Author:

This collection of devotionals chronicles a heartfelt journey from a life of striving and self-reliance to one of growing surrender and trust in God.

Through personal stories of family struggles, cancer, grief, and unexpected trials, the devotions show that true, unshakeable joy comes not from perfect circumstances, but from the constant, loving presence of Jesus Christ.

It’s an invitation to learn to let go of our burdens and find growing peace in God’s greater story.

Finding Joy in Life’s Moments

Because joy is rooted in God and is eternal, it doesn’t ebb and flow with the waves of circumstances. In fact, as we grow in our understanding of joy, we can even experience it more acutely when life is hard. Why? Because God uses trials to conform us into the image of Christ. With this awareness, which gives us glimpses of God’s greater purposes, we rejoice because of His masterful work to free us from needing anything but Him.

For these reasons, and many others, joy in the Lord is commanded in scripture. It’s not just a good idea, it’s vital to our journey as human beings. Rhythms of Joy

Novels by the Author:

What happens when a professor figures out how to send messages to his younger self to try and avoid the suicide of his best friend? Did he change more than he bargained for? Beyond Time

By finding two undelivered letters in an old shack deep in the woods, Cassie and Daniel unknowingly set off a series of events which uncovers a plot to wipe out a whole family. Hope Remains

Please Check out the Cola City Podcast . Discussions that impact the vision of reaching every man, woman, and child in a city.

Rejoicing in Life's Moments, Replenish

(The Everlasting Way) Recovering

January 23, 2026 robuck4@aol.com 2 Comments

Basking in the beginning of a new year. It is chilly outside, but we are cozy inside. It’s so quiet. 😊

Jack, our two-year-old Aussie, is constantly making sure we’re okay. He’s been spending a lot of time checking on my bride lately as she is recovering from shingles and life-threatening clot removal surgery.

Today I want to take some time to align my insides with what’s happened externally. I don’t always take the time to do this.

Emotions from multiple difficulties tend to stack up in my soul and grow stale, numbing my tenderness. But today I need to steward my heart. It’s part of our recovery.

A Little Entomology

Re-covery – The word recover comes from Latin recuperare (“to get again, regain”), via Old French recovrer, meaning to return to a former state, health, or possession. [1]

I love ‘re’ words. There are several that work well as I unpack my heart.

• Reflect — to bend your attention back toward truth

• Replenish — to fill again what has been poured out

• Rejoice — to delight deeply, to let joy rise anew

Reflect

Reflect, to bend my mind back toward the truth.

The truth is that my wife could have been blinded by a severe case of shingles. She could have had a stroke or lost her life with the blood clots in her leg and lungs.

Allowing these facts to pass the stubborn ‘No Entrance’ gate of my inner heart, I cry: “I could have easily lost by bride of forty-four years!”

The reality of these recent happenings is taking root deep within me. My eyes tear up.

Tears are rare for me, and I don’t hold back. My soul shakes a bit to go along with the tear, and soft sobs emerge.

With my eyes closed, I feel a gentle pressure on my arm.

My eyes open to find Jack’s paw on my arm, checking on me. Australian Shepherds are that way. I can learn a lot from him.

Replenish

re – (again) + plenus (full) to fill up again, to restore fullness

My tears don’t last long, and they never erupt into anything more than gentle sobs, but I’m glad for them.

I turn my thoughts to the word replenish.

During a crisis, you can’t easily tell how your soul becomes drained. But I could tell I was getting discouraged. It can be disheartening when someone you love is suffering and there’s not much you can do to ease their pain.

I felt this before during the deaths of my father, mother and sister. Seeing them suffer, I did what I could, but their pain remained.

In our present situation, many folks have rallied around us.

On the first day of the emergency, even before we knew how serious the situation was, Dean, Kevin, James, and Dave showed up at the first hospital.

On the day of the surgery, our kids came from all over the place; our brother Bill flew down. Elder Rob was with us in the waiting room.

The Andes, Anna, the Millers, the Hills, James, Kelsey and Becky brought food, and many others offered. Our kids cleaned up our house and even put clean sheets on our bed. Folks from our church, our neighborhood and long-term friends were constantly praying for us, checking in and offering help.

The presence of love replenishes. It was happening during the crisis, and it’s happening now.

And now, as I pause and draw near to God, though He never leaves me, His nearness, His comfort is replenishing me. My soul is being brought back to fullness. 😎

Rejoice

re–(intensive) + gaudere (to delight)–to delight deeply, to experience joy again

Being brought again to fullness in His presence, my soul senses joy.

In Your right hand there are pleasures forever (Psalm 16:11b NASB)

He is joy. All the “little joys” of this temporal place never satisfy us. Only God gives full joy.

But how can suffering and joy co-exist? The following answers to this question are not exhaustive.

Paul: For we don’t desire to have you uninformed, brothers, concerning our affliction which happened to us in Asia: that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, so much that we despaired even of life. 9 Yes, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead (II Corinthians 1:8-9).

When our hard times stretch us beyond our abilities, it helps us realize our limitations. We can give up or we can trust in God.

James: Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4).

Testing builds our endurance and perseverance, teaching us not to depend on circumstances to be okay. In Christ, we lack nothing.

Peter: In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved in various trials, 7 that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes, even though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ — 8 whom, not having known, you love. In him, though now you don’t see him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory, 9 receiving the result of your faith, the salvation of your souls (I Peter 1:6-9).

Trials purify and strengthen our faith.