Jan 24, 20192 min
And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.
Be Filled
There are many occasions in life where it's essential that some things be absolutely full. If you're headed out for a long trip, for example, the gas tank needs to be filled. A half of a tank just won't do. Or when the doctor writes a prescription for antibiotics for you, he always tells you to take all the pills, even after you feel better. Take the full dose; a partial dose won't insure that you'll get better.
When Solomon and the people of Israel dedicated the temple, it was important for God to make His presence known in complete fullness. It was God's way of putting His stamp of approval both on Solomon and on the structure he built for the Lord's glory. An anemic demonstration of God's presence would not be sufficient. So God chose to fill the temple with the cloud of His glory until the priests had to halt temporarily the offering of sacrifices. His presence was so overwhelming that those who served Him had to vacate the premises.
A Christian needs to experience this same filling as well. The Lord's glory (or character) needs to so fill our lives that we overflow with God's goodness, purity and all the other traits that make up who He is. That's why the apostle Paul wrote, "And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit" (Eph. 5:18). Not just once, as when the temple was dedicated, but continually be filled. And not just a little bit, but be filled all the way, right to the brim, until the Spirit of God spills out from you.
Ask God to fill you with His glory through the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13). Don't be satisfied with a nominal, lukewarm Christianity. Pray that God's character will so fill you that it will flow out to everyone around you.
He who is full of God can never be full of himself.