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The stuff inside
I read a story by a pastor named Al Harris that illustrates how the Holy
Spirit works. One June evening, a little boy was playing outside his home
when he noticed some fireflies. He was fascinated by their light so he ran
inside the house and excitedly asked his dad, “Daddy, what makes the
fireflies glow?”
His dad, not sure how to answer, said to his son, “I really don’t know
son. Why don’t you ask your teacher at school?”
The boy was not discouraged by his dad’s non-answer. He quickly ran back
outside to admire the fascinating creatures some more. He tried to catch
one. Several times he swatted at them with his hands but missed; but then
his hands clapped together on both sides of a firefly in flight and he
squished it between his palms.
Making a face as he felt the mashed insect’s remains between his hands,
he slowly opened them to see the dead creature. To his surprise, the
insect’s remains were still glowing in the palms of his hands.
Excitedly, he ran back into the house, yelling, “Daddy, daddy, I found
out what it is that makes the fireflies glow!”
His dad, pleased that his son had figured out the answer to his own
question, asked, “What is it, son?”
“Dad, it is the stuff inside! He replied proudly showing him the palms of
his hands.
The same thing is true of the followers of Jesus Christ. What is it that
gives us the glow? The answer is simple – it is the stuff inside – the Holy
Spirit.
In John 14:16-17, Jesus told his disciples, “I will ask the Father,
and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of
truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows
him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
In verse 26, Jesus added, “The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the
Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you
of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give
you… Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
The Spirit testifies about Jesus and points people to Jesus as our source
of righteousness and the solution to all our fear and guilt. The Spirit
reveals to us our true identity as children of God in union with Jesus
Christ, and it is by the Spirit that Jesus and the Father make their
dwelling within us.
Indeed, it’s what’s inside that makes us glow.
I’m Joseph Tkach, speaking of LIFE.
Copyright 2009 Grace Communion International
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