Sacred Scripture
The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. But the one who comes from heaven [is above all]. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy. For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift of the Spirit. The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.” (John 3:31-36)
Reflection
For some people, the pandemic introduced a new concept – the concept of rationing. We were vividly reminded that earthly things are not in the abundance they once were,
In contrast, we are reminded by today’s scripture that there is no rationing of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that are available to us. God gives him to us without measure. He doesn’t reserve his Spirit only for special people. He doesn’t hoard the Spirit in case supplies get low. He is always ready—even eager—to give us more.
He wants to make spiritual truths come alive in your heart. He wants to convince you that Jesus is Lord. He wants to show you your sin so that you will repent and be set free. He wants to assure you that he has triumphed over evil and that Satan has been condemned. And he wants to give you the power to share the gospel with the people around you.
But when it actually comes to doing it, there is often much hesitancy. It may be fear of the unknown. Or it may be that we do not fully want to change. Whatever the case may be, God is offering us an unlimited amount of grace by the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit,
Yes, our lives will be changed. Perhaps our very relationships might change, In a country that has embraced labels and consigned people to descriptive categories, we may even join the ranks of those who are categorized as zealous or out of step with the world.
The fact is that if we allow ourselves to be filled with grace, we will be out of step with the secular world. We will avoid those situations where our spirituality will be challenged or dismissed. We will shun lies, deception, and disparagement of others.
We will see the world in a different light. A world where we recognize God’s love in each person. A world where we see the opportunity to forgive a gift to the forgiver and the forgiven. A world where we look for the opportunity to make each person feel valued, feel loved and included.
“For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift of the Spirit.”
HIS gift. HIS love. HIS presence in our lives eternally.
In these days especially, we should be turning more to Him and asking Him to unleash His gifts in our lives. We need to hope. We need to dream. We need to be reminded that earthly things pass but His love does not.
Now why would anyone want to ration that?
Prayer of The Day
“Lord Jesus Christ, let your Holy Spirit fill me and transform my heart and mind that I may choose life — abundant life in you and with you. And give me the courage and strength to always discern good from evil and to reject everything that is false and contrary to your holy will.”
Daily Note
Have you called on the Holy Spirit lately? If you’re facing a difficult decision and need some spiritual insight, he’s ready to guide you. If you’re struggling with doubt, he is ready to strengthen your faith. If you want to share your faith with someone, but you don’t know what to do or say, he is ready to give you his words. If you are dealing with the chains of addiction or a pattern of sin that seems impossible to break, he is ready with his power and his encouragement. That is the gift that awaits us each and every day,
