The cup our Shepherd provides for us is larger than we even realize. It is filled with blessings, and the more we take out, the more He replenishes our cup and fills it to overflowing. If we reflect back on the days of our lives, we will remember many times when we received blessings from God; and sometimes, we were totally dependent upon His continuing to fill our cup. Even amidst trials and troubles, if we look for them, we will find blessings galore. We have received more blessings from God than we can count!
Our cup is also filled with God's Spirit. It overflows with love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. Our cup is filled, not just for us to be happy, but also for us to be useful, sharing with others what our Shepherd has shared with us. If we are fruitful and useful children of God, sharing from the overflow of the Spirit in our own lives, the blessings will be multiplied to those around us. In our abundance, we become channels of blessing to others.
In the custom of the eastern world, the cups provided to guests of a special occasion were filled to the brim, and they were abundantly refilled throughout the celebration. The guests knew they were welcome as long as their cups remained full.
The cups of the children of Israel in the wilderness were filled with manna from heaven and water out of a rock all the way through their wilderness journey. In a story told by Jesus, the cup of the prodigal son was filled with a welcome home from his father, the best robe, and a feast of joy and celebration.
Jesus said,
"I am come that they might have life,
and that they might have it more abundantly."
John 10:10.
