Reservoirs of Life
Lately, I’ve been contemplating what God desires from us as followers of His Son, Jesus Christ, and citizens in His holy kingdom.
“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.”
1 Corinthians 2:11
Living according to the Spirit is the nature of believers. I’ve lived, now, as a Christian for many years. During my life’s journey, I’ve met a lot of people.
Reservoirs of Life
I have been privileged to not just meet, but to have known, brothers and sisters in our Lord, across this nation and around this world. The Christians that have had the greatest influence on me are the ones that possess in themselves reservoirs of life that they supply to others for every event in life.
Do you remember when Jesus said to the Samaritan woman that the “water” He was willing to give would become a spring of water that would fill that person up to eternal life? (John 4:10-14) Jesus was speaking of the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39). Jesus’ intent, to this day, is for his followers to be filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit; to be reservoirs of life.
The Spirit in Us and on Us
The people that have changed me are ones who lived by allowing themselves to be submerged in the Holy Spirit. They are filled with the Holy Spirit, and submerged in the Spirit; they are the ones best prepared to overflow “living water” into lives that are parched earth, devoid of life.
Church services, Bible studies, Sunday school, men’s fellowships, and women’s retreats, are all good and vital, but this vitality only finds its purpose when it carves out deeper places, deeper reservoirs for a life filled with the Holy Spirit. We live as clay jars filled with the “water” people desperately need.
Fruit of the Spirit
The “water” in us will only do damage to people unless we see them as God sees them. Too often, our preconceptions, prejudices, and pride hamper our eyesight. We see a “Karen” but God sees His creation. We may see a bully, but God sees a person His beloved Son died for.
Jesus said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” (Mark 2:17) Jesus has called us to be doctors for “sick” people. This requires us to possess love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Thankfully, this is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23 NLT)
2020 too
I’ve read that we are living in 2020 too. Since COVID broke out in 2020, it seems like 2020 has never ended; it’s been one world disaster after another. The Russia-Ukraine war, neutral countries wanting to join NATO, inflation, and sky-high fuel prices are sowing fear in the hearts of many people. For the unsaved, they have no place to run for comfort and protection. My hope is that we allow the Holy Spirit to flow from our lives into the lives of sinners.
“Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory
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