Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Philippians 2:17
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:6-7
Poured out. The ancient Hebrew practice of drink offerings usually had to do with wine being poured out before the Lord in worship as a sign of one’s works / life completely given to the Lord. Paul here in 2 Timothy was at the end of ministry and race and knew his time on earth was about up. I’m sure it was a mixture of emotions and certainly a time of reflection as he looked over his life. Paul’s wrestling of this issue was shown in Philippians 1:23-24. As we walk with Him more and more throughout the years our hearts yearn for more of Him — even to be with Him in greater and greater ways. Heaven becomes real. And we long for home. To be with the Family and our King. Yet we know that our assignment from Him is our calling and must be finished with all obedience and completion.
The value of mature spiritual elders in this state is inexpressible as their hearts are the closest to His during that time. They no longer look for anything for themselves but only the assignment the Lord has given them. We need to be around elders like this, for their wisdom is so vital for our correct perspective. A clear sign of the enemy working in a community is the destruction of two segments of the community, the children and the elderly. Both of those segments teach us more about the heart of the Father than the midsection of life. Children and their innocence and the elders with their wisdom show us the value of life.
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. Psalms 116:15
A good name is better than precious ointment,
and the day of death than the day of birth. Ecclesiastes 7:1
To finish well should be our goal. Working each day to that goal and not wasting a day He has given us for His glory. We need to be present with Him in His ‘yoke’ following His lead, watching Him work in us, through us, and around us in others. Learning His heart as we work to be obedient to Him without complaint or argument.
When you have the opportunity to spend time with young children and older spiritually mature elders — ask the Lord what you should ask and do while in their presence. The lessons of life are rich with both of those segments of our community. Be aware each day as you interact with others what the Lord is doing with them and through them. Be an astute student of the Holy Spirit.
Listen well.