Thoughts for another day

February 13, 2009.

Today's verse: Ps. 51:11. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Thinking of the Holy Spirit, I see two dimensions of His operating in us. One, in God’s life in us in the form of His Spirit which He breathed into us, see Gen. 6:3. This is the Spirit by which we live and move and have our being in Him. The second dimension is the Spirit guiding us, helping us live fully. Jesus said, ‘I have come so you may have life to the fullest’ (Jn. 10:10). In the coming of Jesus, the Spirit was available to anyone who asked. There are examples of men and women who were clothed with the Holy Spirit of God, even before Jesus came; but it was the decree of God that brought the presence of His Spirit upon men, according to His choice.

After Jesus the coming of the Holy Spirit is just a matter of time for those who are born again and yearn to live good Christian lives. All we need to do is ask Him for His Spirit because, without His Spirit, it is impossible to live the life Jesus wants us to live. How can you forgive someone who has wronged you, but with His Spirit? How can you remain pure in a world otherwise littered with filth and lust, without the guidance and the strength of the gentle Holy Spirit?

An example of this is in the life of David. David lived by the Spirit of God and did all that God wanted him to do. He was so devoted to God that we all know he is referred to by God as a ‘man after My Own heart’. And we read of all his wonderful exploits which were possible only by God’s Spirit being with him. Yet, one day, as men do, David sinned grievously. Later when the sin was pointed out to him, David felt like a punctured tire. He realised the going away of God’s Spirit from his life. That’s when he penned Ps. 51 asking God to forgive him. The above verse is part of that psalm which came from a heart filled with remorse. David had realised that without the Spirit of God it would be impossible to live and he pleads that God restores Him.

This should serve as a reminder to us that we cannot live a full life unless His Spirit abides in us. So today, let us lift ourselves from the morass we are in and plead God for His abiding Spirit, so that we are ready to face any challenge before us.