Good Morning Friends,
We as Christians need to rely more upon the power of the Holy Spirit than on our own wisdom so we might more fully grasp the deep peace of God. We need to rely more on the Holy Spirit than on the actions of our emotions. The difference is in the power, wisdom, and glory of the cross, and that through that main event of all history we might receive the mind of Christ and experience a divine transformation. So, this morning we meditate on the presence of the Holy Spirit and ask, Are We Prepared To Be A Positive Influence Reflecting God’s Power?
Scripture: When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (NSRV)
‘You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled underfoot. ‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5: 13-16 (NRSV)
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.
Isaiah 58:7-10 (NRSV)
Message: As Christians we are called to the highest standard of conduct. We are also called to be used by God to bless people for a Holy purpose. Sometimes it is an unexpected and immediate blessing and at other times manifested in a long-awaited harvest. The beauty is that God will use people from all walks of life to plant blessings. What comes of these efforts is in part a matter of trust and faith but also a matter of our own authenticity. Some efforts have unintended toxic consequences and different levels of effectiveness. In some we are just a catalyst, which brings us to today’s self-evaluation about seeing God from the inside out. The amazing thing is that God’s power is unlimited, and it has a way of working in and through us no matter how stressed the events in our lives make us feel. No, this does not mean we are guaranteed to always be right even if we think we are praying. It does not mean that we can ignore scripture. It does not mean that in pride we will not make a mess of things. However, it does mean that we can have the power of Christ working in and through us to bring peace and light to our lives and the lives of others. And in that peace, we can better discern the thoughts of our minds and the intentions of our hearts so that we might honor God. Friends, we have been given the power of Christ and it is more abundant than we can imagine. For in Christ, we have the power of prayer in the very personal and sometimes painful presence of God. We have the benefit of having been forgiven, which strengthens us and frees us to exert power for a purpose. We have the power of the Holy Spirit. We have the power of Christ’s resurrection living in us. We have the authenticity of a power that draws us into a relationship with God so we might be victorious with Christ…so we might choose to actively seek His guidance in our lives. Maybe we have institutionalized this message so much that we have lost the light and salt of it, but it is still there for us. Friends, we are given the power as salt and light, to replicate some of Jesus in our lives…but unless we employ a love that multiplies those who are called to be Christians, we miss the mark. The power in becoming doers of the Word of God is in the surrender, fellowship, honesty, and grace of the Holy Spirit. Here when we take personal responsibility for character development in ourselves and others, as it relates to God’s plan for them, we embrace what we were made for. Here in the giving we receive the assets necessary to live life abundantly. Here God is faithful to His promises. Here we learn how to receive. Here we grow in Christ-like love and faith. Powerless…we are to give away in love what has been given to us. That is the way we are transformed on the journey even if we do not fully see.
And So, the best of gifts is to let our light shine and be of pure motives so that we might be a divine encouragement on the world in which we live. We are to be a seasoning and preservative when brought into contact with others. We are to illuminate the truth. Our charity is to bear fruit. Our light is to be sustainable so that others may triumph over a culture of ignorance and death. We are to be a message of hope that with God we will always have enough. We are to share in the sustainable love of God. The message is clear. We can experience the pure joy of living in the kindness and peace of giving just a little bit more and taking just a little bit less. Like when we fast, we set an objective, make a commitment, and prepare ourselves spiritually as an act of repentance, to be alone with God, listening for our Lord’s leading and reinforcing the time with a new rhythm of grace in our daily lives.
Pray with thanksgiving that we each experience the life-changing power of the Holy Spirit. Pray we not miss out on anything that God wants us to experience. Pray we see the clear evidence of the Holy Spirit in our expression of ministry. Pray we learn to seek wisdom in following the promptings of the Spirit. Pray we live in the truth, not going our own way but in experiencing the mind of Christ through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Pray that God forgive us of our unbelief. Pray that we bear witness to the miracle of love that He performs daily in our lives. Pray we have faith and reason. Pray we love God with all our hearts, minds, and souls as a community of love. Pray we have the blessings of belief shared. Pray we be as salt and light for each other.
Pray we believe in the power of giving. We focus on getting closer to God. Pray we experience the connection between prayer, giving and fasting. Pray we cease our strivings in order to fast, to pray, to rest, allowing God to restore rhythms that we are meant to enjoy. Pray that our giving, fasting, and praying converge to restore the texture and pace to our lives as a cushion against the forces that grind away at our souls. Pray we realize that we are called to be authentic and pure. Pray we have a heart of love ready to serve God. Pray we shine our light to the glory of God.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 