Through the Holy Spirit

Romans 5:5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Making a Christmas gift, versus buying a gift, can be very satisfying for the giver and the receiver. It shows the receiver that the giver cares enough to not just go out a buy a gift. It shows that the giver cares enough to give a part of themselves in the love and care that goes into making the gift. One of my most precious Christmas gifts is a simple little pillow made by my children when they were much younger.  Each child lovingly helped to make the pillow and signed their names in their little kid handwriting.

A recipe, as defined by Webster’s dictionary is a set of instructions for making something (as a food dish) from various ingredients.  Many times when we combine ingredients we cannot tell what ingredients went into the mix because they lose their distinct appearance amongst the other ingredients. At other times it is very easy to tell what the component parts are in a recipe because of their unique physical properties. We pour the ingredients together as called out in the recipe and we hopefully achieve the desired results.

As believers, we are the result of a recipe created by God. And in making each of us, God added the ingredients He saw were needed to make each of us the individuals we are. In doing so, he poured out his love for us into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. He did this once, and continues to do so.  This act of love by God our Father gives each of us the faith we need in our lives to endure whatever trial or tribulation may enter into our lives. In addition to pouring his love into our hearts, the blood of Christ was poured out on the cross so that we would be saved. That gift of grace, which we sorely do not deserve but are given freely, is our most precious gift from our Father in heaven. All other gifts pale in comparison. The love, sacrifice, caring, and compassion poured out on that cross are comprehendible because we have been given faith by God our Father. Each time we kneel at the communion rail and receive the body and blood of Christ we are reminded of the love and sacrifice poured out for us because the “love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.”  It is not simply bread and wine, it is the body and blood of Christ. We know this to be the case because Christ said so. This gift of salvation did not come wrapped up in Christmas wrapping paper with ribbons and bows. Yet this gift is more precious than any we will ever receive from anyone else. It is the gift that keeps on giving. The next time you receive communion, stop and think about the gift you are about to receive. It’s a fantastic gift, which does not have to be placed under a Christmas tree to be great.

PRAYER: Lord, Your strength comforts and fortifies us. Your Spirit gives us the faith to overcome our trials and tribulations. Help us dear Lord to remember that Your love for us is boundless. Let the peace that flows from You to keep our hearts free from fear. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen