Timely Meeting

If you had the opportunity to meet Jesus in person, what would you feel? Unbelievers would likely be dumbfounded: that which I considered nonexistent, really is true! Hmm, now what should I do, think, say, uh . . .

If you are a believer, I suggest this meeting would be radically different. Certainly you would probably feel overwhelmed. What would you try to say to someone who knows everything you are thinking, everything you have ever thought, said, and did? All the thoughts, words, or actions for which He has forgiven you! This is someone who was with you through all the struggles and learning experiences you endured -- this is someone who knows all the depth of your present shock. Would you want to praise Him for, for . . . everything? Would you suspect He wants something different from you — but what?

I would like to suggest this is an experience you can have any second of any day. All we need to do is begin reading His words left for us and remember the Holy Spirit lives within us and will be as active as we are willing to allow Him to be. Jesus’ promise to His disciples (Jn. 16:12-14) also applies in part to His other children:  “I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

At that point you should be partially astonished, but also realize that He loves you enough to not only die for you, but is also committed to help you become what He wants you to be. What the Holy Spirit reveals for an individual to do probably will not exactly mirror the task given to any other person since our past experiences have made each of us unique, to a degree. Although being a bit unique, we all need to embrace the guidance God gives to us and courageously act on it. Since part of the triune God lives within the Christian, sometimes we think it is so far beyond our comprehension we deny its reality. Each person the Holy Spirit indwells has immense power to accomplish those things Jesus wants done. We should remember that when we are aligned with His desires, we have the same power Jesus did. One of our major challenges is replacing our desires with Jesus’ desires.