Making It More Personal

The whole point of Jesus' ministry on earth was to bring us close to God, and he did that and then some. He didn't only save us from judgment, set a good example for us, and remind us to love each other (although that was all great). He went much farther. He opened the way to invade our life.

Jesus warns his disciples that he will have to leave them. He then comforts them by promising, "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14:26-27 (NIV))."

Jesus is promising his disciples more than they have ever experienced. They have been with the Son of God, but soon the Son of God will be within them through the Holy Spirit. This is a divine invasion. The God of the universe, the one who made all things, the one who healed the blind and made the lame walk will be not only be with them, but will be closer to them than any other person can possibly be.

That is Jesus' promise to us. When we surrender to God, he gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit, a downpayment or deposit on our salvation. But that's not all. With the Spirit comes his power. He offers us wisdom and guidance. He renews our heart and our mind. He doesn't do it all automatically. He comes along side us as we follow Jesus. We still need to invest, to study, pray, and obey, but the Holy Spirit empowers us to bring a bigger return on our investment.

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are also part of the package deal. Many Christians live their entire life never experiencing all that God has for them. They haven't read the Scriptures to grasp all that God has to offer, or they lack the faith and trust to pursue all that God asks us to pursue, or they are satisfied with the little they have received. This last one is especially sad. Jesus has won more for us than most of us can imagine, but we should try to imagine it, to actively seek out all God has for us, to allow ourselves to be surprised.

To follow Jesus is not merely to believe a set of precepts about God. It is about learning how to let the living God move in and through us. It's very, very personal.