Sunday, May 27, 2012

The Holy Spirit A Great Gift

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” -- Acts 1:4-5

Wonderful counselor. Constant companion. Barometer of right and wrong. The Holy Spirit living within us. Our gift.

Jesus’ disciples, His followers, His family, had all witnessed numerous miracles. They heard Jesus’ wise words, had seen His wisdom as He dealt with Pharisees and sinners and hurt souls. How could they possibly continue on without Him to guide their words and deeds?

Today is Pentecost. That’s the day God sent the Holy Spirit to live within believers. It’s available to anyone. The Holy Spirit helps mold us into the image of Christ.

I’ve never really been able to explain to anyone what it feels like in that moment when the Holy Spirit arrives. We are made new in Christ. We know that because the Bible tells us so. But how do we explain the peace, the excitement, the nearness of Christ? How can I tell anyone what it feels like to know with an unshakeable certainty that I belong to Him?

Not long ago, a co-worker accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. He’d always considered himself to be a Christian. But somehow along the way he came to understand the difference between knowing with his mind and feeling with his heart. He was Baptized with water but that came after his Baptism by the Holy Spirit.

“It’s different,” he told me.

I smiled and nodded. “I know.”

Some people are fortunate to grow up in church, always claiming Jesus as their own. They don’t know a time when they didn’t belong to Him. They’ve always known the Holy Spirit. They are blessed. And yet they also have missed something powerful. Because how can we fully know what we have without knowing what it’s like to be without it?

I am so grateful to the Holy Spirit for being there with me. I’m sure I’ve been frustrating at times, when I refused to listen to gentle guiding and instead charted a path that led me astray. But He never left me and, when I was ready, the Holy Spirit’s voice grew stronger and stronger in my life.

Today we celebrate a gift from God, a reminder of His love. We are not orphans. We were not left here alone to await the return of Jesus. We have a wonderful counselor and friend in the Holy Spirit. Thank you, God, for perfect gifts.