The Spirit's Work

Acts 2:38-39

There is an abundance of failure in the community of faith today. Sadly, it's all too common to find believers who aren't living as Scripture teaches—and they are missing out on the joy and peace that Jesus promised. The reason? When followers of Christ don't recognize the need to live in the Spirit, they attempt to push through each day in their own strength.

On Pentecost, God's Spirit came to indwell believers. He is a gift, blessing us in many ways. Let's consider some of the works He does. The Holy Spirit . . .

• Convicts our hearts of sin so that we can repent and be right with God (John 16:8).

• Regenerates us. We are new beings, alive in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).

• Seals us forever as a child of the Almighty (Eph. 1:13). We don't ever have to fear the loss of our salvation.

• Teaches, guides, counsels, and empowers us throughout life (John 14:26). Left to our own devices, we confuse truth with deception, but God brings clarity.

• Gifts and enables us to do the work God has planned for us (Eph. 2:10; for a list of spiritual gifts, see also 1 Cor. 12).

• Bears fruit through us (Gal. 5:22-23). As we are obedient to what God calls us to do, we get to watch Him work in mighty ways.

All these benefits are available to everyone who follows Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, we too often bypass all of these by attempting to live in our own meager strength. The Christian life is this: Christ living His life in and through us by the power of the Holy Spirit of the living God.

Biblical Love

Corinthians 13:1-8

In today's passage, Paul talks about love and its preeminence over speech, knowledge, generosity, and self-sacrifice (vv. 1-3). The apostle then describes the nature of biblical love, which is patient, kind, humble, and slow to anger (vv. 4-7).

However, we often struggle as we try to practice this model of unselfish affection. One reason is that the godly expression of caring doesn't come naturally to us. Pure Christian love puts the other person ahead of our own interests, even when our human inclinations clamor to place self first (v. 5).

A second challenge is the temptation to withhold affection until others apologize or change their behavior. We remember their offense long after it has occurred. That's not what our Lord did—He loved us while we were still sinners and forgave us for everything (Rom. 5:8; Luke 23:34).

Furthermore, it is easier to point out someone else's unkindness toward us than to see where we have fallen short. Perhaps a close friend has spoken impatiently to us and we responded with angry words. How easily we can use Scripture to point out her mistake, but how hard to admit our own.

We are called to be loving towards God as well as those around us (Mark 12:30-31). We've received the Holy Spirit, who will help us learn how to care deeply for others.

Experiencing God's affection and demonstrating it to others are to be two of our greatest joys. Take time to memorize the attributes of biblical love, and look for ways to practice them in your relationships. In times of stress, think about the list, and let the power of love transform your response.

A Life of Peace

Isaiah 26:2-4

Your home offers protection from the elements. So when a storm rolls in, you seek shelter within the safety of those four walls. The same principle applies to life's storms. If we've built a solid house on a foundation of faith, then we've got a haven to run to when dark clouds gather and anxiety threatens to overwhelm us.

Let's suppose I've got a problem that has me fretting. My stomach is in knots. Friends and family try to be understanding, but they're growing weary of me taking my heartache out on them. I'm so focused on this issue that it feels as if I'm carrying a load on my shoulders. God offers a liberating alternative: "Cast your burden upon [Me] and [I] will sustain you" (Ps. 55:22). He does not erase the ills that invade this life. Instead, He shields us from the weight of worry by taking situations into His own hands.

However, the call to a free and peaceful life goes unheeded unless a person has confidence in the Lord. Trust is built through relationship—praying during daily trials and triumphs, seeking biblical guidance for decisions, and testing God's Word to see that it is true and practical for this life. That's how a house of faith is constructed brick by brick on the solid rock of Jesus Christ.

A believer who trusts in God receives the peace that Philippians 4:7 promises. But unshakeable peace isn't instantaneous; it is cultivated through a consistent relationship with the Lord. A lifestyle of dependence upon Him is the key to weathering storms with supernatural calm.

Unshakeable Peace

Philippians 4:6-7

Anxiety is the enemy of a peaceful life. People go to great lengths to get rid of stress: travel ads promise that vacations will sweep you away from it; gyms offer to help you "sweat it out"; and popular magazines suggest ways to lessen it by adjusting schedules or habits. The problem is that no one can adequately shift circumstances to achieve total freedom from heartache, burdens, or trouble.

However, we can have unshakeable peace during anxious times. Jesus said to seek peace in Him because He has overcome this troublesome world (John 16:33). The key is to shift our focus from the scary problem onto God, who lovingly provides whatever we need from His limitless resources and power (Ps. 50:10; Rom. 8:11).

Serenity can't be manufactured—it's a gift from our heavenly Father. The Holy Spirit produces a sense of calm in believers who seek the Lord's protection against anxiety (Gal. 5:22). The Greek word translated as guard in today's passage literally means "to garrison about." God wraps hearts and minds in peace, effectively safeguarding both against all-consuming worry or fear. Notice that He doesn't make problems go away—we may still be under pressure or prone to weep, but we're cushioned against anxiety and surrounded by peace instead.

Today's verses tell us to pray rather than give in to anxiety. These words are Paul's orders for doing battle against the stresses and troubles of this world. Prayer keeps your mind and heart garrisoned with peace. Keep trusting in God so that your defenses are strong and anxiety cannot slip in.

Our Way or God's Way

Exodus 2:11-25

Whenever challenges come, there are two different ways to respond: God's way or our way. Moses is an example of a man who, on separate occasions, tried out both options. In today's passage, we see what happened when he took matters into his own hands. Although his motives were pure—namely, the relief of his peoples' suffering—his method was wrong. Moses made three mistakes.

1. He focused on the difficulty instead of on the Lord. How often have you and I done the same thing? The unfairness or pain of a situation grabs our attention and in our quest for a solution, we forget our all-powerful God.

2. He relied on his own strength and understanding. When a problem arises, the most natural response is to do what we can to make it right.

3. He acted impulsively rather than waiting on the Lord. If a situation seems urgent, fixing the problem as fast as possible becomes our top priority.

Our way can look so logical at the time, but let's consider how effective Moses was in achieving his goal. An Egyptian was killed, but the Hebrew people weren't liberated. Moses was misunderstood by those he tried to help, and his life took an unexpected detour into the desert for 40 long years.

We've all followed Moses' example at some point and suffered the consequences of self-reliance. But God didn't reject Moses and cancel His plans for him. Instead, He refined the future leader's character through trials and gave him another chance. Don't you think the Lord will do the same for us?