Verse
I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?
— Galatians 3:2 NIV
Thought
Most of us love lists. We can check things off our lists and show we've completed our tasks. If we don't complete our list, we feel like we deserve what we get. The Holy Spirit, however, is not something we deserve. The Spirit is a gift Jesus gives to those who believe in him — those who trust in and share with Jesus in his death, burial, and resurrection through baptism (1 Corinthians 15:1-5; Romans 6:3-6). Paul was reminding these Galatian Christians that no list, not even one given in the law, can bring the Holy Spirit to them. They received the Spirit because they fully believed in Jesus who poured out this gift upon them (Titus 3:3-7). No wonder Jesus talked about the Holy Spirit as one of God's greatest gifts (Luke 11:11-13).
Prayer
O Father, thank you for the gift of your Son who died for my sins and was raised from the dead to give me the victory over sin and death. I also thank you, dear Father, for the gift of the Holy Spirit who is your presence that lives in me. May my life be to your glory, O God. In the name of Jesus, I offer you my deepest thanks! Amen.
Devotional provided by Heartlight®
© 1996-2017. All rights reserved.
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I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?
— Galatians 3:2 NIV
Thought
Most of us love lists. We can check things off our lists and show we've completed our tasks. If we don't complete our list, we feel like we deserve what we get. The Holy Spirit, however, is not something we deserve. The Spirit is a gift Jesus gives to those who believe in him — those who trust in and share with Jesus in his death, burial, and resurrection through baptism (1 Corinthians 15:1-5; Romans 6:3-6). Paul was reminding these Galatian Christians that no list, not even one given in the law, can bring the Holy Spirit to them. They received the Spirit because they fully believed in Jesus who poured out this gift upon them (Titus 3:3-7). No wonder Jesus talked about the Holy Spirit as one of God's greatest gifts (Luke 11:11-13).
Prayer
O Father, thank you for the gift of your Son who died for my sins and was raised from the dead to give me the victory over sin and death. I also thank you, dear Father, for the gift of the Holy Spirit who is your presence that lives in me. May my life be to your glory, O God. In the name of Jesus, I offer you my deepest thanks! Amen.
Devotional provided by Heartlight®
© 1996-2017. All rights reserved.
