God's Holy Fire: 'Spiritual Mystery'

Tuesday, August 13, 2024

A Year with Jesus - Holy Week

Spend some time with Jesus this week preparing for Resurrection Sunday.

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[Jesus continued,] "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.
— John 3:8 NIV

Key Thought

As a young boy, I remember taking apart an old clock radio to figure out how it worked. I learned a great deal — including the importance of unplugging something electrical before taking it apart! But, I can't figure out the way the Spirit works on the hearts of men and women to bring them to Jesus and to give them new birth. I can see the changes in people's lives. I can hear their confession of faith. I can watch them being baptized. But each of these things is evidence of the greater reality that I cannot fully comprehend or explain — they are evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit in people's lives to open their hearts to Jesus and surrender to him as Lord, to cleanse them of their sin, to live inside of them, and to include them in the family of God. However, I am thankful that I recognize that Jesus said I couldn't fully comprehend this new birth but also that I have repeatedly seen the Spirit make incredible differences in the lives of people. While, according to the old English adage, you might not be able to "teach an old dog new tricks," I know that the Holy Spirit can give anyone, young or old, new life!

Today's Prayer

Thank you, dear God, for things beyond my ability to comprehend fully — things like your holiness, your grace, and your love. I am thankful today for the work of the Holy Spirit to bring new birth into the lives of people. I confess that I do not fully comprehend how all of this happens, but I do believe the Holy Spirit makes it happen. So thank you! Thank you for your mysteries and thank you for your gift of the Spirit. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

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Illustration

Illustration of John 3:8 NIV — "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."   ——   "How can this be?"

About This Devotional

God's Holy Fire is a daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.