I ended my last devotion mentioning that we need to share what we know about who Jesus is with those who have not heard or believed in Him. That is not something we are able to do on our own, and we don’t have to do so. We have a helper, God Himself, the Comforter, the promised Holy Spirit.
All three persons of our one true God are mentioned in this verse:
2 CORINTHIANS 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
The fellowship of the Holy Spirit. “Fellowship” is the same Greek word that is used for “communion” and “union.” Think about that as you read/sing the third verse of Luther’s hymn (LSB #954).
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We all confess the Holy Ghost, Who in highest heaven dwelling |
Who the church, His own creation, keeps in unity of spirit. The Holy Spirit is usually spoken of as the Sanctifier. He is the one who brought the church into existence by bringing people to faith. We celebrated the birthday of the Christian Church last week on Pentecost, remembering the Spirit’s activity on that day. But the Holy Spirit does more than just lead us to faith. He stays with us, and continues to work in us through the Word and the Sacraments to keep us faithful.
Dwight Moody was once talking about the need to avoid sin. He held up an empty glass and asked, “How can I get the air out of this glass?” One man said, “Suck it out with a pump!” Moody replied, “That would create a vacuum and shatter the glass.” After many other impossible suggestions, Moody smiled, picked up a pitcher of water, and filled the glass. He said, “There, now the air is removed from the glass.” He went on to explain that our victorious lives as Christians is similar. We do not become acceptable to God by trying to “suck out” all the sin form our lives, but by being filled with the Holy Spirit. He is the one who is able to bring us to faith, the faith that saves. And after we have that faith, the Spirit works to guide us in that paths of righteousness, doing works that are pleasing in God’s sight.
Do not despair if you cannot understand the mystery of the Triune God. The only reason for despair would be if you did not believe it to be true. Because we accept God’s Word in faith, we do all believe in one true God, the God who cares for us, came to save us, and is always with us as our guide and comforter. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
