Despairate for the Holy Spirit
We live in the most dangerous place in the world to be a Christian. This is not because our lives are threatened, but rather because we are surrounded by a culture that lulls us with illusions that God doesn’t matter and our faith isn’t really important. We despairately need a help to escape this apathy, and the Holy Spirit has been sent to us for just this purpose. He is here to reprove us, convict us, encourage us, and empower us to make our faith and our lives matter.
The Person of the Holy Spirit
“It is better for you that I go . . . ”
No doubt the disciples couldn’t believe their ears! What did Jesus mean? How could he abandon them to fend for themselves and expect them to accomplish his work?
It wasn’t Jesus’ plan to abandon them, though. Jesus was leaving, but he was sending the Holy Spirit. This person of the Godhead is often greatly misunderstood, but his coming and dwelling in us is key to achieving God’s work on Earth.
Creator, Not Created
Worship is something permanently wired into the behavior of humans. We idolize so many things: money, lifestyles, cars, houses, sex, the list goes on. The problem is that these things never seem to satisfy us. Just like we can stand in awe of a sight like the Grand Canyon, or the vastness of the night sky, we quickly become board and hunger for the next thing. There is nothing in this world that can truely satisfy us, because we are designed to worship the Creator, not the things He has created.
The Serpent in the Wilderness
Nicodemus didn’t understand what Jesus meant when he said that he must be “born again.” He was a scholar of the law and prophets, but to him it just sounded preposterous. So Jesus tried to explain it to him in a way he could understand, right out of Moses’ writings
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, (John 3:14)
Like the serpent in the wilderness, we can only escape the torment by looking and believing. The serpent was the symbol of the price paid for the sins of the people of Israel, and Christ on the cross is the price paid for the sins of us all.
Male and Female In Christ
In the last few decades there has been a radical shift in our culture in the way that we preceive the roles of men and women. Should women serve in the military? Should there be domestic partnerships between same sex couples? The church at large has found itself under-prepared to address the rapidly shifting views on gender roles, and many are simply too uncomfortable to talk about it. It’s time to change that.
Trials Measure Progress
No one enjoys a trial. Even Jesus himself asked that if it were possible, that his trial be taken from him. Trials are uncomfortable, and even painful. Whether a trial is enduring mockery for your faith, sickness, financial issues, relationship problems, or even the danger of losing your life, the way we face our trials is revealing of our character and our faith. Trials make us grow, and provide markers for us to measure the progress of our lives, and our walk with God.
The Owner’s Box
You’re walking through unfamiliar halls, looking for the right direction. Those you ask for directions are often unsure of the right way. You finally find the right way, but it is filled with all kinds of extravagace and luxury to distract you from your destination. Finally, you find someone who tells you what to do. He points you to an unlikely narrow corridor and tells you to present your ticket at an unassuming door. You step into the room, and there is an air of excitement. You have been invited to the Owners’ Box, and the owner himself is expected to be there!
Fellowship and Discipleship
Much of our lives is private, but the Christian life was never intended to be isolated. You cannot be a true disciple, and avoid fellowship with other Christians. It is essential that desciples of Christ support each other in their weaknesses. We do not need to pretend to each other that we have no problems, we all have problems, and can overcome them best with the support of fellow believers.
Don’t fall into the trap of being an isolationist. When you do you will begin to invent your own “spirituality” which you believe is superior to the understanding of others, while in truth you become blind to your own shortcomings and have no one to show you when you are wrong.
The Wrong Well
What is it that satisfies you? Would you be satisfied if you had more money in the bank? The right car? The right woman or man? Are you seeking satisfaction in some temporary fix, when God is offering lasting satisfaction?
