Devotionals by Active Word
When you look carefully, you can see a trend that takes place during the interaction between Jesus and His disciples. Quite consistently, we see instances where they put a priority on things that Jesus doesn't.
For example, at one time the twelve were extremely worried about how the Jewish leaders of the day would take Jesus' comments towards them, but Jesus wasn't worried in the least (Matthew 15:12). On another occasion, the disciples were in awe of the Temple's splendor, but Jesus foresaw its ruin (Mark 13:1).
But the reverse also occurs. In several instances, Jesus attaches importance to something that the disciples don't. Case in point, just prior to His arrest, Jesus made it a point to tell His followers that that although He would be leaving them, the Holy Spirit would come to them (John 14:16). Not only that, He continues to remind them of this fact (John 14:26, 15:26, and 16:7). It's almost as if Jesus is saying, "Guys! Do you even realize what I'm telling you?"
Truth be told, we're often guilty of the same thing. We're prone to lose sight of the importance of the Holy Spirit, who actually comes inside our hearts and takes up permanent residency there. This is something that Jesus placed great priority on because it's among the most important promises and privileges ever given to man.
Notice, however, how faith plays a pivotal role when it comes to receiving the Holy Spirit. It's through faith, faith in what Jesus Christ has done on our behalf at the Cross, that the way is cleared for God's Spirit to enter into our lives.
The Spirit's presence is a blessing we often fail to fully appreciate, which means our faith is often more important than we appreciate. Lord, help us to remember that it's through the faith You grant us that we receive this Great Gift.
Think About It…
What does this passage reveal to me about God?
What does this passage reveal to me about myself?
Based on this, what changes do I need to make?
What is my prayer for today?
Posted via email from ..................The Last Call Digest
