March 11

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…”—ACTS 1:8

After Peter had spoken to the crowds at Pentecost, the people were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:37-38). 

The gift of the Holy Spirit is the resurrected life of Christ indwelling us. How do we know if this has taken place in our lives? The first indication is that we have an appetite to know more about God. Those who earnestly seek God find Him, and as He reveals Himself, we are given a hunger and thirst for righteousness from which grows a desire to serve Him.

The life of the Apostle Paul is exemplary of the indwelling Spirit of Christ, but in his early years, his conviction of truth had been misguided into centuries of Jewish tradition and faith, rather than in God, Himself. From his youth, Paul had an appetite for God, and was educated in the best schools, became a Pharisee at a young age, and kept the Pharisaic laws to the point of being faultless. He was unquestionably driven by a genuine desire to serve God as demonstrated by his relentless pursuit and persecution of believers in Christ. 

What Paul couldn’t accept was that the long-awaited Messiah would be humiliated, scorned and nailed to a cross. On the road to Damascus, Jesus opened his eyes to the Truth. A light from heaven flashed so intensely around him he fell to the ground. For three days that light was the last thing Paul saw, and for three days Jesus left him in darkness to ponder the truth; that He was the Messiah, and He was alive and active.

And that’s the problem for many people today. They believe Jesus is the Son of God; that He died for our sins, and was raised to life again, but it’s quite another thing to believe Jesus is alive and active. He was not raised to life simply to sit at the right hand of His Father, but so that He might indwell us and become the source of all we need.

The only one capable of living the Christian life is Christ. That’s why God planned a day where He would pour out His Holy Spirit upon all who called on His name. Since Pentecost, Christ has been and continues to be at work around the globe, building up His church. And His church consists of people indwelt by Him, and with a spirit of servitude, are committed to a loving, fruitful relationship with Him.

PRAYER: Strengthen me in your Spirit, Lord, and allow me to be of service to You. Thank You.

TO REFLECT UPON: Am I enjoying an active and intimate relationship with Christ?