GodReflection: How About A Better Way?
Have you noticed? Life is hard!
Now that I’ve said what you already know, let me share a few thoughts with you, hopefully to remind of our resource ready to help. Well on the downside of my seventh decade, I have no doubt about my own futility to navigate life successfully by my own human power.
Jesus tells us there is a better way. He invites us to let His Holy Spirit lead and be our guide daily to navigate the HARD of life. When we follow and trust him, he assures us that His Spirit takes control of Our Spirit to direct our steps so that no matter the outcome, we are at peace.
My acquaintance with the Holy Spirit is a process. Like the metamorphic change of a caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly I have a profound desire for the resident Spirit of Jesus to work its transformative power to help me move from acquaintance to the beauty of a close relationship.
An almost forgotten voice in my family church tree is that of Kentuckian Barton W. Stone (1772-1844). In his sermon “The Four Unities,” the fourth unity he labels “fire unity” as he affirmed that the Spirit’s residence in the hearts of believers, is what unites the body of Jesus—the church.
I am united and with Jesus and all believers through His Spirit that took up residence in my body and soul when I submitted to God through His Son.
With the apostle Peter’s revelation and instruction “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,” (Acts 2:38) Jesus shares His Spirit with all submissive humans.
Another apostle, Paul, wants me to join with Timothy his protégé to “guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” (2 Timothy 1:14)
Do I have to understand how the Spirit lives in me to trust its reality? When I think of Christ followers of the first three centuries, I am reminded that their walk with Jesus took place without the advantage of a Bible with sixty-six books and letters. Truth is, until recent times much of the Christian world walks an identical path.
I suspect those early believers were hard-wired to the daily present of Jesus’ Holy Spirit far beyond what I can possibly imagine. Their discernment antenna probably tuned into his Spirit more readily than mine does.
In stark contrast, I have 24/7 access to Holy Scripture through King James, the American Standard Version, the RSV, NIV, the ESV, and a gazillion other translations to aid my walk.
Around-the-clock, podcasts, sermons, websites, and Christian writers flood my brain. I suspect the resident Holy Spirit sifts and chooses through all that input to provide me with daily guidance. However, with all my advantages could it be that I fail to see through it all to appreciate as I should the Spirit’s action within? I would like to think that my Spirit discernment is on the upswing as my path wines toward the sunset. There are times when I see His presence with greater clarity.
Most likely in his nineties, after walking Jerusalem’s streets and country sides with Jesus; after observation of his death, burial, and resurrection; after persecution and a lifetime of perseverance; after daily acquaintance with the post ascension presence of Jesus’ spirit within his own body; old John writes:
This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so, we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. (1 John 4: 13-16)
Throughout my lifetime I’ve seen enough intermittent signs of the Jesus’ Holy Spirit to trust His presence as an indwelt guide. No, I don’t always perceive his guidance. Yet, it is my desire that both you and I become less of an “earthoholic” as we live into the gift of His Spirit which is now Our Spirit.
Don’t you suspect we would all be more successful at life were we to acknowledge Jesus’ Holy Spirit presence and accept His assistance? How about it, doesn’t that sound like a Better Way?
Stay tuned.
Gary J. Sorrells
A GodReflection on His Spirit Our Spirit.
God Reflection 
Great thoughts Gary! Thanks for reminding us of the marvelous, unspeakably marvelous gift, that is the presence of the indwelling Spirit! Que Deus os abençoe.
LikeLike