GodReflection: A Word We Can Count On—Spirit.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
The Spirit is a Biggie. What an understatement. The Holy Spirit is an enigma. I constantly wish for greater awareness. Talk about a mind boggler—God, Jesus, Holy Spirit—all separate and all one. God dies on a cross in the form of Jesus. As he dies, Jesus commits his Holy Spirit into the hands of God.
As a kid, when I arose from baptismal waters, I learn that The Holy Spirit of Jesus lives in me. At other times, Scripture says God’s Spirit lives in me. Ok, is it God, is it Jesus, or is it Holy Spirit? The answer is Yes. Here I am, powered by Jesus, guided by the Holy Spirit, and indwelt by God.
I readily admit I am not the brightest light bulb in the room. Neither am I the dullest. Nor am I a newbie at discipleship. I suspect my mother taught me the words God and Jesus right after the words Mom and Dad.
However, I can’t wrap my brain around Spirit. My entire life has transpired within the shadow of The Holy. Yet, I am not a very competent sorter between the actions of God, Jesus, and Spirit.
The Spirit equates to God in Old Testament Scripture. God sends His Spirit into those who have hearts that beat with His heart. The Creator’s power flows from His Spirit through those He anoints.
In The Gospels, we read of Mary’s conception by The Holy Spirit so that Jesus, God’s Son, can walk streets on earth as a man to make God visible to us humans. Jesus tells us, If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him (John 14:7).
The Holy Spirit of Jesus enters all disciples since the Acts 2 baptismal event. Perhaps, I don’t have to understand the distinctions between God’s Spirit, Jesus’s Spirit, and The Holy Spirit. Maybe the idea is as simple as if we are indwelled by The Holy who makes us His home.
Jesus’s apostle Paul teaches, Do you not know that your bodies are temples of The Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
Because The Spirit of The Holy lives inside of us our goal is to make every action of our bodies honor Father God-Son Jesus-Holy Spirit.
The Spirit of God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit lives inside each of us and powers our walk. The three are one and the one is three. No, I don’t understand it. Yes, I believe it.
As we continue to walk through life, let us become more aware that our power comes from The Spirit. Tuned into Spirit power we become The Holy’s light for others. When we block Spirit power and proceed by our own steam, we hide Jesus. May those times become less.
Let us allow Spirit to be more than a word. Let us draw from its power.
Yes, Spirit is A Word We Can Count On.
Dr. Gary J. Sorrells
A GodReflection: A Word We Can Count On—Spirit.
