Read
… learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.
Isaiah 1:17
Reflect
Roald Amundsen is one of the greatest adventurers of all time. In 1911 he became the first person to reach the South Pole, and 15 years later he reached the North Pole, becoming the first person to have reached both of the Earth’s poles.
Traveling to the planet’s extreme ends is dangerous even today, but 100 years ago it was downright treacherous. Amundsen never married, but apparently there was someone waiting at home for him, at least according to an unverified story. As the story goes, Amundsen took homing pigeons with him on his North Pole voyage. When he reached his destination, Amundsen took out one of the pigeons and released it into the air. The bird flew more than 2,000 miles back to Norway, bringing with it a message that all was well with Amundsen’s expedition.
There is a striking similarity between Amundsen’s story and the sending of the Holy Spirit. Jesus could not remain with us physically, so He sent a dove – the Holy Spirit – into our hearts to bear witness to His love. He even told us, “…it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7)
The Holy Spirit is confusing to a lot of people, and that’s understandable. When I was a child I remember Him being called the Holy Ghost, and that was really confusing to me. All of the ghosts I had seen were in cartoons and movies and they were either scary or silly. When I got older, I realized that the Holy Spirit isn’t just a wonderful thing — He’s a vital third of the Trinity and he’s our power for living the Christian life.
So many people get caught up the “gifts of the Spirit,” and those are very real.
“There are different kinds of gifts. But they are all given to believers by the same Spirit. There are different ways to serve. But they all come from the same Lord. There are different ways the Spirit works. But the same God is working in all these ways and in all people.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)
But that word, “gift,” can also be confusing. A better word might be manifestations, because they’re a visible sign that the Spirit is present and active. It’s important to remember that the ultimate gift of the Spirit is the Spirit Himself, because Jesus sent Him to us to help us live better lives.
“The Holy Spirit is given to each of us in a special way. That is for the good of all.” (1 Corinthians 12:7)
Today, there is a gift waiting for you from Jesus. I hope you’ve already received Him, but if you haven’t, please don’t wait. The wonders inside that box are life-changing.
Reflection copyright © 2024 Doug DeBolt and Charles Fulton.
