Free Refills

1 Corinthians 13:13 – And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. (NRSV)

1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 – We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. (NRSV)

My friend and I were looking for a restaurant in which to dine while we renewed our old acquaintance. The mall we were in offered several choices; finally, we noticed one that advertised "free refills".

That was the gimmick I needed to make a choice. I'm a coffee drinker, and these words filled me with a pleasant feeling. For one thing, it meant my coffee would be kept at the right temperature by a waitress who would be concerned. It also indicated that we were welcome to linger over our meal and have a second cup of coffee or tea with dessert after we had finished our main course. These words to me advertised hospitality. We were not disappointed.

As I thought later about my experience, I was reminded that Jesus Christ came to give us refills, or second chances. When we accept Him into our lives, we are filled with new life. Along the way, if we stagger and fall, or get lost, all we have to do is ask Him for a refill, or second chance, after we've acknowledged that the coffee in our cup is getting low, or cold and needs reheating.

He simply asks us to cast aside our worries, to trust in Him, to obey His Word, and to respond to His leading. He will not just "refill our cup", He will keep it full and running over, if we stay connected to Him. He will keep our hearts warmed with the Holy Spirit and with His love that lets us know that He cares for us.

Prayer: Thank You, dear Lord, for the times You refill our cups and let us start over. Keep our cups full, warm, and running over, so we can not only be refilled, but be able to share with others. Amen.