Life in the Spirit!
Reflection: Today’s
Romans’ reading gives us an insight into the relationship between the 2nd
and 3rd persons of the Trinity.
Notice it says the Spirit of Christ.
Although the Holy Spirit and Jesus are different persons, they are
obviously related. Paul says if anyone
does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. This is the same Spirit that raised Jesus
from the dead, and the same Spirit that will raise believers from the dead when
they die.
Notice how the Spirit forms our identity. The Spirit reminds us of our "sonship" (and
"daughtership"), and it is through the Spirit that we can cry out to the Father
as the psalmist does in our psalm for the day.
Importantly it is only through the Spirit that we can live a life that
is pleasing to God. It is through the
Spirit that we can say “no” to the sinful nature, which we battle as Paul
did. (see Romans 7) Jesus’ relationship with the Father in the
power of the Spirit was the fuel for all of his life. Jesus did nothing without the Father’s
prompting and did nothing without the power of the Spirit, which came upon him
in bodily form when he was baptized by John the Baptist.
As we believe and are baptized, we receive the power
of the Holy Spirit. When we read the
bible and pray it is the Spirit that helps us.
When we go to share our faith, it is the Spirit that gives us the words
to say. When we are tempted, it is the
Spirit that helps us to stand up under it and look for God’s escape route. When we suffer, it is the Spirit that helps
us to endure the experience. And when we
sin, it is the Spirit who convicts us that we have strayed from the Father’s
will and leads us to confess our sins to God.
So if you are experiencing defeat or discouragement in
your Christian life, guess what you need?
The power of the Spirit!
Sometimes people think of the Spirit only in terms of the charmismatic
movement, speaking in tongues or other ecstatic gifts. But as you can see today the Holy Spirit is a
part of every aspect of our walk with God.
Suffice it to say we can do nothing of spiritual value without the
Spirit. As the Old Prophet says in
Zechariah 4:6, “Not by power and might, but by my Spirit says the Lord!”
Psalm 38:9-16
9 All my longings lie open
before you, Lord;
my sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart pounds, my
strength fails me;
even the light has gone from my eyes.
11 My friends and
companions avoid me because of my wounds;
my neighbors stay far away.
12 Those who want to kill
me set their traps,
those who would harm me talk of my ruin;
all day long they scheme and lie.
13 I am like the deaf, who
cannot hear,
like the mute, who cannot speak;
14 I have become like one
who does not hear,
whose mouth can offer no reply.
15 Lord, I wait for you;
you will answer, Lord my God.
16 For I said, “Do not let
them gloat
or exalt themselves over me when my feet
slip.”
Esther 1
Queen Vashti Deposed
1 This is what happened
during the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching
from India to Cush: 2 At that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in
the citadel of Susa, 3 and in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for
all his nobles and officials. The military leaders of Persia and Media, the
princes, and the nobles of the provinces were present. 4 For a full 180 days he
displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his
majesty. 5 When these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven
days, in the enclosed garden of the king’s palace, for all the people from the
least to the greatest who were in the citadel of Susa. 6 The garden had
hangings of white and blue linen, fastened with cords of white linen and purple
material to silver rings on marble pillars. There were couches of gold and
silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other
costly stones. 7 Wine was served in goblets of gold, each one different from
the other, and the royal wine was abundant, in keeping with the king’s
liberality. 8 By the king’s command each guest was allowed to drink with no
restrictions, for the king instructed all the wine stewards to serve each man
what he wished. 9 Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal
palace of King Xerxes. 10 On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high
spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman,
Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Karkas— 11 to bring before him
Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the
people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at. 12 But when the attendants
delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king
became furious and burned with anger. 13 Since it was customary for the king to
consult experts in matters of law and justice, he spoke with the wise men who
understood the times 14 and were closest to the king—Karshena, Shethar,
Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memukan, the seven nobles of Persia and
Media who had special access to the king and were highest in the kingdom. 15
“According to law, what must be done to Queen Vashti?” he asked. “She has not
obeyed the command of King Xerxes that the eunuchs have taken to her.” 16 Then
Memukan replied in the presence of the king and the nobles, “Queen Vashti has
done wrong, not only against the king but also against all the nobles and the
peoples of all the provinces of King Xerxes. 17 For the queen’s conduct will
become known to all the women, and so they will despise their husbands and say,
‘King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not
come.’ 18 This very day the Persian and Median women of the nobility who have
heard about the queen’s conduct will respond to all the king’s nobles in the
same way. There will be no end of disrespect and discord. 19 “Therefore, if it
pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the
laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again
to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her royal position
to someone else who is better than she. 20 Then when the king’s edict is
proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, all the women will respect their
husbands, from the least to the greatest.” 21 The king and his nobles were
pleased with this advice, so the king did as Memukan proposed. 22 He sent dispatches
to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each
people in their own language, proclaiming that every man should be ruler over
his own household, using his native tongue.
Romans 8:9-19
9 You, however, are not in
the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit
of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do
not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is
subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of
righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is
living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your
mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. 12 Therefore, brothers
and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live
according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but
if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
14 For those who are led
by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does
not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you
received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba,
Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s
children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and
co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may
also share in his glory.
Present Suffering and Future Glory
18 I consider that our
present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed
in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God
to be revealed.
The Lord is my strength and my might, and he has
become my salvation. Exodus 15:2
As Jesus was now approaching the path down from the
Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God
joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen. Luke
19:37
Gracious God, may we fully and truly follow you today
in the way of selfless and life-changing love. May our thoughts, words, and
actions reflect the power of love: to forgive, change, accept, save, and to
heal. Amen.
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