Last week my husband and I took a day out of the busyness, as we sometimes do, to just enjoy being together and being out in God’s creation. We went a little further down the coast, enjoying the beauty of the beaches. I snapped lots of photos. I’m particularly keen on photos of water washing over rocks. It’s interesting to see how much the rocks have been worn away and shaped by the waves and also by the wind. Sometimes it can be a bit like that in our Christian life.
When we first come to believe in Jesus we receive, at that time, the Holy Spirit, John 3:3-21, Romans 5:5, Romans 8:9, 11, 16, 1 Corinthians 3:16. In fact, it is only through the working of the Holy Spirit that we recognize and confess Jesus as Lord, 1 Corinthians, 12:3. And the Holy Spirit is our pledge or guarantee given to us by God of our eternal life, 2 Corinthians 5:5, and Ephesians 1:13-14.
Paul also talks about the manifestations of the Spirit, which are given for the common good – that is the building up of God’s people. Those evidences or manifestations of the Spirit are the word of wisdom or knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, miracles, prophecy and tongues, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10. Some of these are quite evident and showy manifestations of the Spirit.
We also read in Galatians 5:22-23 of the fruit of the Spirit, ‘Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.’ For some of us we may be more like those wind-chafed and wind-shaped rocks. It takes time and repeated pressure before the evidence of the Spirit’s work is seen in our lives – before we show and others see that love, patience, gentleness etc. After all, He’s re-shaping us.
It may take time, but never fear, God is at work – as long as we are doing our part and allowing Him to work in us. In other words we need to keep in step with the Spirit, Galatians 5:25, and allow Him to fill our lives, Ephesians 5:18. Then we will see the evidence and changes in our attitudes and behavior.
Bible verses from The New American Standard Version
Please visit these related blogs
The Functions and Attributes of the Holy Spirit
Are Your Core Values the Same?