30 April 2019 - a Spirit thing

Today's Readings

(Audio)

We are born of the Spirit. Is he the principle that animates us and gives us life? Without the Spirit alive in us the descriptions we hear of the disciples in the Acts of the Apostles seem like idealized fantasy.

The community of believers was of one heart and mind,
and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own,
but they had everything in common.

Church as we experience it does not show much of the unity of means and purpose. We tend to hoard more than we need for ourselves, holding back from those whom we could otherwise assist. We tend to each have a particular focus of just what truth the world needs, which corrections it should hear, and how the Gospel should be proclaimed.

We have been born again of the Spirit. So where is this unity? God has placed unity in our hearts, but we must work to manifest it. We have been given peace so we must now walk in the peace we have been given.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (see Ephesians 4:1-3).

Only the Spirit will keep us humble, gentle, and patience when our intentions of peace and unity are put to the test. Only the Spirit can give to the whole Church a unified program of proclamation. By unified it isn't meant that everyone says the same thing. Rather, it is meant that our voices harmonize. Truth, it is said, is symphonic. Only with the Spirit as our conductor do we avoid discordant notes.

We are so interested in studies and programs and demographics for figuring out how the Church should grow. We have our own ideas about how to preach. But when we turn first to the Holy Spirit we finally find the way to bridge the gap to the heart of those who need the message.

With great power the Apostles bore witness
to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,
and great favor was accorded them all.

What does the Holy Spirit teach? To lift up the Son of Man! In him is life!

The LORD is king, in splendor robed;
robed is the LORD and girt about with strength.