DAILY BYTE As a minister, one of the privileges of my vocation is visiting people in their homes. However, one of the hazards of this aspect of ministry is that I will occasionally encounter large gates with no bell on them to announce my presence and an ominous looking ‘Beware the Dog’ sign fixed onto it. The sign is normally decorated with a picture of a bulldog who looks as if he routinely consumes steroids with his dog biscuits and could comfortably swallow me whole. It is that point I normally leave a message in the post box saying that one of my ministerial colleagues would be round to visit them soon!
One author, I think it was Philip Yancey, once speculated that churches should put up ‘Beware the God’ signs. The story of Pentecost as told in Acts 2 confirms that to us. God in many ways is a mystery to us, God is far greater than us and God’s plan for our lives and this world will sweep us out beyond ourselves. It will change us and our life’s dreams and priorities.
Pentecost celebrates the Gospel’s climax – all the incredible love and endless grace of God rushes into our lives and the Church through the Holy Spirit, but we need to know that God will sweep us along with him in what may be a bit of a wild ride at times. Our focus text today illustrates that – read it carefully and you will see what happens to a Holy Spirit filled community.
So fasten your seatbelts, for if you choose to be filled by God’s Spirit you may be asked to do wild and dangerous things such as to forgive an enemy, or embrace someone of a totally different culture or tongue; or you may be asked to include someone whose very presence and life choices offends you; or you may be asked to creatively share what you have with those who have nothing. You may be asked to do all these things and even more than that.
The love of God, which so unconditionally embraces us, will leave us forever changed. Our priorities will change and our character will transform to reflect that of our Father’s. We will be left with new perspectives, deeper vision, and an even greater capacity for Life itself. Things won’t always work out perfectly, and we will still go through tough times, in fact, we may even know suffering precisely because we are following Christ. But the promise is that our lives will always be more meaningfully lived; there will always be more depth to us as a result. We need never look back.
The way God’s Spirit works in our lives and in this world will never be totally understood by us. We will not be able to package it or compartmentalise it (‘the wind blows where it pleases’ John 3.8). The Holy Spirit is and always will be somewhat of a mystery to us. We may never completely work it all out, but we can, totally and utterly, trust God and trust the work of his Spirit in us and in the world.
The question is – will you?
PRAY AS YOU GO
Thank you for the wonderful gift of your Spirit, O God. Thank you for how your Spirit sweeps through the world, bringing your message of radical love and grace to all. We know that being filled with your Spirit will forever change us and our loves, but it is still our prayer that you fill us O God, fill us continually and fill us to the point of overflowing. We trust you totally, and trust the work you will do within us, and also the work you will have us do with our lives. Amen.
FOCUS
