And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. (Rom. 8:9)
THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVES in every Christian. Paul made it very clear that if we don’t have the Spirit of Christ, we don’t belong to Christ. To have the Spirit is a wonderful privilege, and I fear many believers are not living up to their privileges.
Jesus predicted that the Holy Spirit would come. Before He died on the cross, rose from the dead, and ascended back to heaven, Jesus said, concerning the Holy Spirit, “For he lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:17).
Paul said, “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” (1 Cor. 12:13).
So every believer has the Spirit living within. We still have much room to grow, much room to be filled with the Spirit, and much need to be controlled by the Spirit. But the Spirit within us gives us great power to live the Christian life. Without His presence and power, it is impossible to live God’s best life for us. The Spirit will also “teach you all things” (John 14:26) and “guide you into all truth” (16:13).
As you read and study God’s Word, He will make it clear to you, and He will lead you in the way you should go.
Don’t live below your privileges; allow the Holy Spirit to guide you today.
Ron McClung lives in Fishers, Indiana, with his wife Carol. He has written his weekly column, Positive Perspective, for more than twenty-nine years.
© 2018 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.
