Drink Offering

“But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.” -Philippians 2:17

I was thinking about Philippians 2:17 the other day, wondering how Paul could rejoice as he is being poured out as a drink offering. But then I remembered this first part of the same chapter of Philippians: “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love being one in spirit and purpose” -Philippians 2:1-2, and I realized that Paul would joyfully sacrifice his life if it bound his brothers and sisters closer together in love. It was his joy to see them united in one spirit and purpose.

Drink Offering

If red’s required to color love
Then use my blood as paint,
If sacrifice is binding us,
I’ll die with no complaint,
Whatever love requires,
My life will feed the fire—

I know this is our destiny,
So what else can I ask
But that when God reveals His plans
He’ll bless me with the task
To bind us more as one
Until His home is done—

If red’s required to color love
Then use my blood as paint,
The greatest thing that I desire
Is love between the saints;
When we have learned to share
Then Christ is present here!

(c) 2005 Benjamin Graber

Note: Please keep in mind as you read poetry, that metaphors are one of the tools of poetical expression. I am not advocating the use of blood as paint any more than I've walked on a actual path that was “paved with petals”. :)