If the Holy Spirit is God and the Holy Spirit lives in all believers, then there should be a defined difference between the way believers walk in suffering compared to unbelievers. Yet, many who claim to be believers live as if the Holy Spirit doesn’t exist.
We have 24/7 access to the living God through the Holy Spirit inside of us, but we don’t pray. We have the power of the resurrection dwelling inside of us, yet we cower in fear. We have impossible love inside of us, yet we speak hate and create injustice. We have the peace of God inside of us, yet we are wrapped with anxiety. We live like we are alone—without the Holy Spirit and without the community of other believers.
Jesus, before he died, did all that he could to help his disciples understand the companionship of one another and of the Holy Spirit. We know they lived in this companionship if we read the book of Acts and see the church thriving under intense persecution. Acts 4:32-34a says, “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them” (NIV). The Holy Spirit is no different then than he is now. He hasn’t been diluted by being present in more people today than he was back then. So, what is different?
The early church always needed the Holy Spirit. Today, most of us have money, possessions, shelter, friends, jobs, family, and freedoms. We can live a seemingly happy life without the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s only when we face unexpected suffering that we see our need for the Holy Spirit. By the time we see our need, we’ve already practiced relying on everything besides the Holy Spirit that we have no idea how to rely on the Spirit in our time of need.
When we realize that the Holy Spirit is our constant companion—in both times of success and suffering—we can create a daily practice of leaning on the Spirit at all times, in all situations. We are never alone. It’s time we live like it.
Reflection/Discussion Question: What does it look like to have the Holy Spirit as our constant companion?
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