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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