Christmastide

December 31, 2021

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:3-14

In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance towards redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory. –Ephesians 1:11-14

Never alone comes to my mind when I consider the Holy Spirit. The concept of a Holy One traveling with me through all the trials and joys of life is comforting. The Holy Spirit is not a puppet master who corrects any possible miss-steps in our lives. However, we do need to have the opportunity to learn from our mistakes. I think the Holy Spirit helps us realize when we are wrong and is with us when we know we need to repent and turn around from our misdeeds.  

However, we must recognize that for our relationship with the Holy Spirit to be fruitful; it must be two-way. We must be open to the Spirit’s guidance. Sometimes that means we will wrestle with the Spirit as Jacob, the trickster, wrestled with the angel until he became Israel he was capable of being. Or Saul, the religious zealot, became Paul, the apostle who introduced the gentiles to Jesus Christ. Our growth and development may not be as striking as these, but they are as necessary if we are to play our part in making the love of God the standard that rules our world.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Strengthen our relationships with the Spirit so we can serve you more nearly. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.