A Reading
If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth.
Jesus 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’. He who does not love me will not obey my teachings. (John 14: 15-16, 23-24)
A Thought
I aim to keep breathing throughout each and every day, and I have often wondered how many trees are needed to keep me provided with sufficient oxygen.
The answer came in a recent radio programme. Taking account of our daily breaths, lung capacity, air constituents and lung absorption rate, apparently we need seven mature trees to produce enough oxygen for each one of us to breath and live.
I am grateful that they should choose to share their abilities with me.
My soul also wishes to live indefinitely and is interested to understand how many contributors are needed to achieve this.
Only one. Upon our invitation, and in spite of our failings, the Holy Spirit is sent by Jesus to dwell within us. The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance in heaven. The Holy Spirit testifies to us that we are children of God and empowers us to become more like Jesus.
Jesus expects us to share our blessings from the Holy Spirit with others.
So the question we need to ask is not ‘what do I need?’, but ‘where am I needed?’
What gifts of the Holy Spirit can I offer to others today?
A prayer
O Lord,
Fill me afresh with the power of your Spirit.
In your name,
Amen
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