God with You and in You

It can be hard to talk about the Holy Spirit.

Not because God hasn’t told us about his Spirit, but it’s difficult because of who He is: He is spirit. A spirit is a living being without a physical form or substance.

Still, the Bible presents the work of the Holy Spirit in a strikingly straightforward way. It distills the matter to just two alternatives: Either a person has the Spirit, or he doesn’t.

If you don’t have the Holy Spirit, what do you have? In Galatians 5, Paul makes a stark contrast: “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (v 16). We need the Holy Spirit, or we will perpetually give in to our sinful desires. And such a life can only end in misery and death.

So sinners must pray: “Merciful God, save us from ourselves: Send us your Spirit!”

And God promises to grant his Spirit when we humbly ask.

When He is sent to us from heaven, the Spirit gets to work: changing hearts, shaping lives, giving true faith in Jesus Christ.

The Spirit works in the home, helping husbands and wives to live in love, and giving parents wisdom and patience to raise their children.

The Holy Spirit works in the church, making possible true communion, humble service, and joyful worship.

The Spirit works in the world, opening up hearts that were closed in order to let in the saving news of Jesus.

The point is, the Holy Spirit might be invisible, but He will always show himself to be real. After all, He’s the Almighty God himself, now dwelling within us. Today in our own hearts, God’s living and active presence can be very near.

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Scripture Reading: Galatians 5:16-26

Prayer: Heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ, grant me your Holy Spirit. May He move powerfully in me, so that I may trust in you and live for you, always. Amen.