The difference between before and after the Spirit came upon the disciples at Pentecost is awful to amazing. “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8 KJV). When we depend upon the Spirit working in us for everything, then the difference will be amazing. But, remember, God makes that determination. How do we know we’re depending on God for everything? When we continually come to Him for directions and help. If we can get sidetracked doing lesser things, we won’t be available to do the greater things. Allow everything to drive us back to God. Even the “butterfly effect,” the chaos theory of physics, where the simple flapping of a butterfly’s wings can be later responsible for much greater and larger consequences, should impress us of the value of our seemingly inconsequential labor for the LORD. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1Corinthians 15:58).
Promise of the Spirit
Center of the Will of God
Standing in the center of the will of God is not an illusion. Epaphras prayed for the Colossians, “That ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God” (Colossians 4:12 KJV). “Perfect and complete in all the will of God” (4:12) is not man’s standards, for humanity will always be “accusing or else excusing one another” (Romans 2:15). God alone can declare us “perfect and complete” (Colossians 4:12) in the center of the will of God. “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). Only the Spirit of the Living God can cause us to be in the center of the will of God. “And I will put My spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27). Obedience is not simply deciding to do right, and doing it. Obedience is understanding and purposing to do right, then seeking and trusting the Spirit of God in making us do right, as we actually obey. Meditate on it. LORD, we can of our own self do nothing; and, through Your Spirit, we can do all things. Make us to know and trust You for everything. May You be magnified in all things. Return quickly, in Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen and amen.
Okay, What Is Love?
“God is love” (1John 4:8, 16). Love seeks God as its highest good. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:37 KJV). Evidence of love for God is demonstrated by obedience to His commands. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous [Greek, barús, burdensome]” (1John 5:3). Proof of love toward man is to regard your neighbor as highly “as yourself” (Matthew 22:39 NIV). “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2 KJV). And, that law of Christ is to “love one another, as I have loved you” (John 13:34; 15:12). Love seeks the highest good of your neighbor as yourself. When the Spirit of God is dwelling in us, it is brought to pass that God will “move you to follow My decrees and be careful to keep My laws” (Ezekiel 36:27 NIV). LORD, make us glad to keep Your commandments, and help us gladly bare one another’s burdens. Amen.