Wondrous gifts

GOD GIVES us great gifts and tremendous ability to do things. He created us in his image and likeness.

Humankind has built amazing structures and reached astounding heights. We even strive to walk upon other planets one day. We are powerful creatures indeed.

Our power is so great that we can even forget about God if we want to. After all, he gave us free will, didn’t he? We might even defend our freedom so jealously that we shove God out of our lives.

What happens though when you ignore the source of life in the name of freedom?

These gifts — life and freedom — are precious and sacred. And in the Lord’s generosity, he lets us do what we want with them.

If we want to, we can undervalue, abuse, and even eliminate life and freedom. Sadly, it happens all the time. But when we do these things, we know deep down in our hearts it’s wrong.

The more we harm others, the more we harm ourselves. And the more we harm ourselves, the more we harm others.

We waver between the extremes of desiring complete control over everything or complete freedom from responsibility. And at these extremes we find dead places as we are led to forget about God.

I have visited both ends, that is, trying to control everything and trying to escape it all. These desires eventually bury you. Life loses its meaning. Your heart feels heavy. Your soul feels dead. It’s a dark and lonely place.

But no matter how big of a hole you’ve dug for yourself, the Lord calls out to you. He calls you out of the pit of despair.

“Rise up!” he shouts.

And his Word is true power. The universe came forth from his Word. And his Word is Jesus.

From ancient times, centuries past, the Lord called to us and promised us his Spirit. And his Spirit is the giver of life.

Do we underestimate the gift of the Holy Spirit? You might think, I dug myself this hole, and I can’t get out. I can do so many things. I am wonderfully made. But I can’t pull myself out of the pit.

With all my powers and abilities, if I can’t do it, how can I expect God to help me? If you look at it this way, it’s because you’ve forgotten about the ancient truths.

No matter how heavy your heart feels, your soul remembers. It recognizes its Creator’s voice. Your soul always wants to return home.

To regain true life and freedom, we must return to the source of these gifts. God’s Spirit is life energy. He gives you the grit and guts to keep going. His Spirit breathes life into your talents and abilities. He gives you the will to fight and the humility to serve.

The Spirit makes you want to know and love the Lord Jesus. He enables you to cherish your life and freedom.

God’s Spirit fills your heart with joy — beyond the pain and trials, even beyond your sin. Because when Jesus calls out, when his Spirit reaches your soul, the only possible response is joy.

You rejoice as your Savior calls you home.

. . . . . . .

Thus says the Lord GOD: O my people, I will open your graves and have you rise from them, and bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and have you rise from them, O my people! I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle you upon your land; thus you shall know that I am the LORD. I have promised, and I will do it, says the LORD.

Ezekiel 37:12-14

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