Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on the life of this dear reader in all they may face today; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Acts 19: 1 Now, it happened that while Apollos was away in Corinth, Paul made his way down through the mountains, came to Ephesus, and happened on some disciples there. 2 The first thing he said was, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? Did you take God into your mind only, or did you also embrace him with your heart? Did he get inside you?" "We've never even heard of that - a Holy Spirit? God within us?" 3 "How were you baptized, then?" asked Paul. "In John's baptism." 4 "That explains it," said Paul. "John preached a baptism of radical life-change so that people would be ready to receive the One coming after him, who turned out to be Jesus. If you've been baptized in John's baptism, you're ready now for the real thing, for Jesus." 5 And they were. As soon as they heard of it, they were baptized in the name of the Master Jesus. 6 Paul put his hands on their heads and the Holy Spirit entered them. From that moment on, they were praising God in tongues and talking about God's actions. 7 Altogether there were about twelve people there that day. (The Message)
As many have been talking about having a "New You" in the New Year, some have actually taken steps to become a new person. This means different things to different people. As I shared yesterday, the loss of weight for many does actually mean a new person. For others, it is a time to reassess old habits and consider abandoning or quitting same so that a new person can truly emerge. John the Baptist's message was for a new person to emerge out of the waters of the Jordan River; a forgiven person who had left his/her sins in the water. This was a message that many took to heart and as today's lesson shows, kept preaching. Paul encounters a group who had been baptized for the forgiveness of sins and stopped there. Paul asks, in effect, did you take the next step? Have you "embraced Jesus with all your heart? Is He living in you?" This modern version is trying to explain what it means to have the Holy Spirit. Paul goes on to explain that John's baptism was valid and necessary, but John also spoke of the One who came after him and His baptism.
The presence of Jesus dwelling within us is evidence of God's Holy Spirit. If we surrendered our hearts and lives to Christ Jesus and invited Him in, He has come in and become our Lord and Savior. To me, it is a daily surrender and a daily asking; "Christ Jesus come into me and guide me and use me," is part of my prayer at the start of each day. And I keep praying thought prayers and situational prayers, knowing that I want not only to embrace Jesus, but to be embraced by Jesus as well. There are moments when I am too weak to stand on my own and the strong arms of Jesus hold me. How about you? Have you discovered the awesomeness of God's Holy Spirit and the difference it can make in your life?
PRAYER: Loving God, I want to receive Your presence in my life. I want to be Spirit-led and Spirit-changed, so that my life will be one that gives evidence of all that is possible within us through You. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
