Settling in the Dregs
By Kurt Bomar
Avery County
New Years is always a great time to take inventory of our lives. Have you ever noticed that’s when all the commercials seem to highlight their latest exercise equipment? Weight watchers get most of their sign-ups in January and I always see an influx of new dedicated exercisers at the gym (although they seem to fade away as we hit Feb. and March). And finally, Marie always reminds us that she has lost 40-50 pounds on Nutrisystem around this time.
The prophet Zephaniah speaks to this phenomenon:
Zeph. 1:12 “ At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent, who are like wine left on its dregs, who think, ‘The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.’”
“Settled in their dregs” refers to the process of wine-making used in his day whereby a winemaker would allow the wine to settle for a while before pouring it into another vessel, leaving the dregs behind. If he waited too long to make the transfer, the wine would take on the taste of the dregs. This process would be repeated up to seven times until the wine was crystal clear.
It seems that the Israelites were in their December mode. That is, they were content to remain settled in their dregs. They were materialistic, comfortable, and content, not willing to stretch themselves and look to the moving hand of God.
We too can be in our December state of mind so God gives us a choice. We can spiritually say “it’s time to sign up at the gym, try out the bow flex, or give Marie a call” or we can say “I’m fine, what’s for dinner?”
But understand, the Lord wants us to always be growing. If we stretch ourselves Spiritually, He will help us out by shaking up our lives and pouring us out into another vessel.
How does this look? Our lives may be going fine until our boss says “you’re fired” or our boyfriend/girlfriend says “I’m out of here”. We say, “God, how can you let this happen, I thought you loved me?” He does. He loves you so much that He won’t allow you to get too comfortable to too settled because He knows if you do, your life will become clouded with dregs and you will lose the clarity you once had. So things get shaken up as He pours you from one vessel to another. And you are left saying, “what’s going on? I better seek the Lord.” Thus we wait upon Him with renewed intensity.
Given that choice, I want to constantly be in a state of waiting on Him. I don’t want Him to have to shake me up. So let me encourage you to take inventory of your life at this time of year. Do you have an active ministry inside or outside your local church? There’s plenty of stuff to do, and plenty of desperate needs that need to be met. Get out there and look for them!
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Kurt Bomar is the pastor of Walnut Grove Church located in Avery County. You are welcome to join them on Sundays at 11:00 AM for worship! (When we are allowed to meet in the building again). You can read more Christian news from Kurt Bomar HERE.
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