On a previous devotion, I posted a meditation which is relevant to this thread concerning the Holy Spirit - more specifically, that to stay in His Light we must become transparent by surrendering self-will to His will. For anyone interested, here it is again:
This past weekend, that meditation continued. I was compelled to understand that the glory is the Father's, that Jesus is the brightness of His glory and that the Holy Spirit brings His glory through us. We must stay in His Light at all times.
On personal experience I would add that we must be transparent in His Light, without selfish motive. And I believe this is accomplished by "praying without ceasing" never drifting, never becoming opaque.
Here are the passages in the meditation:
Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; - Hebrews 1:3
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:5-7
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. - 2 Corinthians 4:6-7
But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past [were] not a people, but [are] now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10
This past weekend, that meditation continued. I was compelled to understand that the glory is the Father's, that Jesus is the brightness of His glory and that the Holy Spirit brings His glory through us. We must stay in His Light at all times.
I might go so far as to add that we must choose to stay in his light at all times! God will not force us to be in that light if we don't want to be.
When talking with a friend yesterday about Christianity, she asked a really profound question: "Why wouldn't someone want to be a Christian? It's such a wonderful experience!" Realize that my friend who said this is a widow and a mother of a wiley teenager. She has been through hell and back, and yet she has never found anything better than Jesus. She just overflows with thankfulness for all that he's done for her, and refuses to wallow in bitterness over all the difficulties she's been through in life, and, is still going through!
When the real, simple gospel message is presented, it's a powerful thing! Who would say no to it? But then how often do we hear the simply message of the gospel being preached???