Receive

We have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.

—1 Corinthians 2:12 (NLT)

God wants to reveal Himself to you. He doesn’t want to hide the amazing revelation of His Spirit from you. God's Spirit that Paul mentions in today’s verse is the Holy Spirit, and that is just who Jesus said would come at Pentecost to teach us all truth. Pentecost came, and the Holy Spirit descended. The mighty rushing wind of heaven arrived on earth and came to live in those who believed.

Do you believe that Jesus works miraculously beyond your human understanding? “The wind blows wherever it wants,” John wrote. “Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit” (John 3:8, NLT). Just as the incredible way that a person is reborn of the Spirit, no one can tell another person how he receives spiritual understanding from God. 

The Holy Spirit opens the Word to you so He can reveal the beautiful things that Jesus has freely given you. These things might be free to you, but there was a cost so that you might receive them. Jesus paid the price for your sin so that you can receive His forgiveness and righteousness. This is news that is too good to be true—news that humbles you before a Savior so filled with compassion that nothing kept Him from the Cross. Because of His grace, Jesus fills you to overflowing with new life and the amazingly fresh perspective of the Holy Spirit.

You can receive from the Holy Spirit! He never stops imparting wonderful truths to you. He never stops encouraging you. Perhaps the reason you might not be hearing from the Holy Spirit lies in the fact that listening to His voice means you have to be quiet—to give up control and your preconceived agenda. You surrender to receive from Him. To receive His truth you take hold of what He offers. You trust and believe by faith. You let go of your human understanding so that you can receive His supernatural things. 

Do you realize that you have the mind of Christ? By faith, you received it the day you accepted Jesus. Take hold of His mind and receive beyond your natural mind’s ability! You have the Holy Spirit! Listen to Him! Surrender to His love! Grow in His truth and His grace! 

© 2019 Lynn Lacher

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