Wow, it's been since the end of April since I posted in this thing? oops. Oh well, probably not to much of a loss as I don't think this is actually something that people are "pining" (sp?) to read. But I can pretend right? ha-ha.
Anyways, it's been an interesting summer so far to say the least, trying to do summer ministry, some things working, others... well.... not so much. Apparently people like taking vacations in summer which tends to put a major hinder on bigger events that need many people.... Anyways. I've been trying to make a dent in my "reading list" that I have (meaning books that I buy I want to read, I start and then don't get a chance to finish.) Currently I'm reading a book entitled "Not A Fan" by Kyle Idleman and I am enjoying it quite a bit so far and it definitely makes my "recommendation list." Anyways, I just wanted to share a part that I read recently that opened me up to something that I had never really thought of before. I wish there was an easier way to do this instead of typing it all out, but oh well...
"But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you" (John 16:7)
"Did you catch that? Jesus, God in the flesh, says it's better for him to leave, because when he goes the Holy Spirit will come. It's better. Why would he say that? When I was in seminary I did a study of the references in the Bible that speak of God being with man. The Bible speaks of God being with Abraham. God was with Joseph. God was with Elisha. I noticed that most all of the references of "God being with" were in the Old Testament. It just wasn't in the New Testament. I couldn't figure out why that was. I kept thinking I was missing something. Here's what I discovered: there is a subtle but critical prepositional change from the Old Testament to the New Testament. In the Old Testament it says "God with us" - but in the New Testament it's "God in us" (emphasis mine). Jesus says, "It's better for you if I go" - because while God with you is good, God in you is better. Jesus could be with his followers; but the Holy Spirit would live in his followers.
Sometimes I hear people talk about the different men and women of the Old Testament, and there is a hint of jealousy. They may say it, or just insinuate it, but here's what they communicate...
What would it have been like to hear God's voice and see him move in such powerful ways? I wish it was the same for us as it was for those whose stories we read about in Scripture. When I get to heaven I can't wait to ask David, Elijah, or Moses what it was like.
But I think it will be just the opposite in heaven. Before we can ask David what it was like to slay the giant, to win the battles, he'll say, Tell me what it was like on earth to have the Holy Spirit living inside of you, giving you strength when you are weak. We might say to Elijah, What was it like to call down fire from heaven before the prophets of Baal and to raise that boy from the dead? And I think Elijah might say, Yeah, he actually ended up dying again. You tell me what it's like to have God living inside of you. What was it like to live life on earth with the Holy Spirit giving you joy when you're depressed or giving you the power to overcome that sin in your life? We might say to Moses, What was it like to follow the cloud by day and the fire by night? What was it like to meet with God on that mountain? And Moses might say, I had to climb that mountain to meet with God. You tell me what it was like to have him dwell within you every day. What was it like to have the Holy Spirit giving you directions when you didn't know what to do or where to go?"
How amazing is that? Have you ever thought about that? How often have we ever wondered what it was like to "live during those days" just to experience what the people went through.
I was thinking today of a question that has been asked of me (and I have asked others) several times. "Where have you seen Jesus today" And yet I have never even thought about an answer of "I saw him when I looked in the mirror this morning" Have you ever thought that way?
Christ/God/Holy Spirit lives in us!
How amazing it is, and yet so often it is overlooked.
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