From Phillip

  • We come now to the third of our reflections in this season of Pentecost and it seems timely to think about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and our activities.
  • We saw Peter was not alone, and neither are we. God the Father sent the Holy Spirit to be with him and the other elven disciples, and the Holy Spirit is with us too.
  • And Jesus promised His disciples that when the Holy Spirit came, He would do three important things:
  • First, Jesus said, the Holy Spirit will help them understand God’s plans, he would help them understand right from wrong, he would touch their minds and remind them of all that he had taught. See also John 16:13: 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.
  • Second Jesus said the Spirit of truth would help them feel His presence; even though they could not see Him with their eyes, he would help them to hear his voice in their hearts.
  • We can trust God’s Spirit to direct our feelings and so feel the inner promptings of the spirit. See also Isaiah 30:21: Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
  • Thirdly, Jesus said the Holy Spirit would help them live out their lives as His friends and followers; He would enable them to tell others about him and live together as His church.
  • Jesus promised that the power that had been at work in his own life-that same power that had raised him from the dead-would continue to be at work through his Holy Spirit in his body the church.
  • So today, just as it was for Jesus’ disciples on that first Pentecost Sunday, God’s Holy Spirit is still with us and comes to fill each one of us.
  • The Holy Spirit helps us: (i) remember, (ii) feel, and (iii) helps us belong to his church in this community and carry the light and love of Christ into our world.

Reflection:

You may like to use this prayer in your own devotions in the coming week and maybe for a longer period:

Day by day, dear Lord,
of thee three things I pray;
to see thee more clearly,
to love thee more dearly,
to follow thee more nearly,
day by day. (Attributed to Richard of Chichester)


Category: The Bridge , Thought for the week