Tuesday, May 12

Devotional: Plug In!

Intro:
Cell phones and laptops work best when plugged into a wall. They do ok on battery power but that does not last very long. I cannot tell you how many trips (business or vacation) I have gone on without my cord to plug in these essential devices. My cell phone does not work well if it does not get a good charge.

Humans were designed to know God and walk with him. We were designed to love God and know him personally. When sin entered the world we lost our source of power from God. We were left to work by the “sweat of our brow” and grow tired.

Our bodies, like a laptop, have a certain lifespan and are slowing but surely draining. Each day after work is a subtle reminder that we are moving toward that inevitable day when our bodies will simply shut off.

Spiritually speaking the power breakdown is even more pronounced. You can run on battery backup for a few days but really, not for too long. We were designed to be plugged into God’s life. We were designed to be plugged into the Holy Spirit.

The power to love God, the power to trust God, the power to love others does not and cannot come from within us. We do not have the power for these things. The power comes from God himself. It is his life in us! It is his power that we need. He is the plug.

Plug in!

Read: John 14:15-31
15"If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17the 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. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
22Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?"
23Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
25"All this I have spoken while still with you. 26But 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. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
28"You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, 31but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
"Come now; let us leave.

Think:
Jesus told his disciples hard things. Difficult things. “If you love me you will obey me.” But how in the world did he expect them to do this? They were not qualified for such a task. This group of followers were full of themselves, fearful, proud, ambitious for personal gain, petty and weak. Other than that they were ready for the task!

Jesus did not leave them with an impossible task (love me = obey me) without empowering them to fulfill that task. Jesus did not leave them alone. Jesus did not leave them to their own devices and power to make spiritual things happen. Jesus left the Holy Spirit for them to rely on. He was their personal Jesus ... on the inside. He was the power of God on the inside. He was their ONLY hope of obedience. Our only hope for obedience too!

We are commanded to “Keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5). We are to be near him, watch what he is doing and join him there, speak in such a way that the he owns our words as his very own and impacts those around us. That is some journey. That is real life. That is obedience. That is an adventurous life. That is plugged in living.

Do:
Are you plugged in right now? Have you been plugged in today? Were you plugged in yesterday? You know if you are or not? As you cultivate a relationship with God the Holy Spirit you will be plugged in. He will empower you to do what God has commanded you to do: trust him and love others.

How do you get plugged in? You first get plugged in when you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. When you come to the end of yourself and realize that you are lost then you can be found. When you realize that YOUR sin caused Jesus to die on the cross then you can be saved. When you are saved you are instantly filled with the Holy Spirit.

How do you stay plugged in? Exactly the same way! As you first came to trust in Christ so walk in him (Col 2:6). In other words, you came to Christ broken and on your knees, you came asking for forgiveness and help. Keep doing that!!!! You do not grow past your recognition of your sin and weakness. We never arrive spiritually speaking.

We surrender to the Lord each day. We are to remain in him daily. Maybe now is a good time to come to Christ again. Maybe it is a good time to confess our need of him again. To agree with that song, “I’m still a man in need of a savior”. Maybe now is a good time to get plugged in!


DevoLink: Devotions to help you Link with God.