Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Enfleshed Spirit

May 27 Tuesday of the 6th week of Easter
A thought for those who want to reveal the risen Jesus in their lifestyle.

Acts 16:22-34; Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 7-8; John 16:5-11

“I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go.” John 16:7

Jesus had to die so he could rise in us—multiplied and visible by the witness of the Spirit.

Who would see “sin” in not believing in a man who lived two thousand years ago, known only by scriptures written to present a mystery—the whole truth of his sojourn on earth—instead of just historical details? But if that mystery is made flesh in living people today it “convicts the world of sin, because they do not believe.”

If only Jesus was super-humanly good, that challenges no one. But if, after Jesus has “returned to the Father,” we see others living on his level of love, we have no excuse not to embrace his New Law.

Had Jesus not been defeated by evil as visibly as anyone, and just as visibly triumphed, a sense of hopelessness about human life might be justified. But all around us we see people enlightened by faith to accept him as the Truth, empowered by hope to follow him as the Way, enthused by love (from the Greek en, “in,” and theos, “god”—caught up in God) to experience him as the Life.

The Holy Spirit, visibly enlightening, empowering and enthusing us, convicts unbelief by our faith, merely human morality by our hope, and negativity toward the world by our love.

PRAY: “Lord, let your Spirit act in me.”


PRACTICE: Be conscious of the Spirit in you.

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