"Leakers"

You can't keep a leaky bucket filled.

Neither can you inflate a basketball with a hole in it.

Some people are the same way. I call them "The Leakers".

I don't think any of us make it through this life without getting a few holes punched in us.

The difference is if we are willing, or even capable, of being patched up.

Therein lies the rub. Also the difference.

Chronic leakers cannot (or will not) be consoled. Consoled is another word for "patched up".

Some folks just cannot be consoled. They won't let you. Perhaps the leak rate is too fast. They are like a sieve. The minute one leak is sprung, before you can get to it to patch it, another one erupts. Then another. And another. And... well you can picture it.

I don't think it's so much that any more happens to them than anyone else, but rather how they handle what does happen to them. Even the most insignificant or inconsequential difficulty becomes a mountain when the consolation of Christ is not getting through. The most minor of problems can run their train right off the rails.

Leakers.

This is why Paul appears to be so adamant in Philippians 2:1-2 (Amplified Bible). Stay with me on this, it's awesome!

Philippians 2:1-2 - "(1) "SO BY whatever [appeal to you there is in our mutual dwelling in Christ, by whatever] strengthening and consoling and encouraging [our relationship] in Him [affords], by whatever persuasive incentive there is in love, by whatever participation in the [Holy] Spirit [we share], and by whatever depth of affection and compassionate sympathy, (2) Fill up and complete my joy by living in harmony and being of the same mind and one in purpose, having the same love, being in full accord and of one harmonious mind and intention."

Paul is admonishing us to "fill him up" in joy. Also to allow ourselves to be filled (same mind and purpose). To be filled we have to stop the leak. Stopping the leak means to be consoled.

It's not a sign of weakness to be consoled. If anything it's a sign of strength.

"When I am weak I am strong." Paradoxical. As long as the strength is Christ.

Strengthened. Consoled. Encouraged. By the brethren who mutually dwell in Christ along with you!

Participation. Harmony. Incentive. Affection. Compassion. Sympathy. Joy. Intention. Love.

What a bunch of great "buzz" words!

It's all the stuff the leakers avoid or don't subscribe to. They choose instead to bleed out all over the place, and replenishment never comes because they won't be CONSOLED (patched).

I know that "WON'T" sounds so obstinate and harsh. Well, it is at times just that, but sometimes it's ignorance, habit, or tradition. Melancholia, moroseness, gloominess, and depression (which is anger turned inward), are also culprits. Hey, at the end of the day, it's all selfishness preventing Christ from doing His work.

Junkies don't get well until they want to. Drunks don't get sober until they want to. Nothing in this world is strong enough to battle your free will, not even Jesus Christ! In the gospels, those who didn't receive were those who didn't believe.

You cannot be filled if you continue to leak.

Step outside your problems today. Put them at the foot of the Cross.

Allow this word from me to you today to be your consolation, your "patch job". It's not me really. It's Christ. It's always Christ.

Be comforted and know that it will be ok. It will get better.

If you do not need to be comforted today, then be a comforter to someone who does.

It's all got to get past Jesus first!

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin