In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. As soon as he came up out of the water, he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well-pleased.” (Mark 1:9-11)
Jesus was born as God’s Son, yet he still needed to be filled with the Holy Spirit in order for him to fulfill God‘s purpose. The same is true with us. We are accepted into the family of God through the merits and blood of Jesus Christ, yet we still need to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit opens our minds to who God truly is and enables us to understand God’s will. Without the Holy Spirit, we will still live by religious beliefs and practices, yet our life will lack God’s empowerment. To follow in the ways of Christ means to yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit‘s direction, just as Jesus did.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, pour out your Holy Spirit into my life. Help me to see the difference between my religious preferences and your Spirit. Give me the wisdom to surrender my personal preferences so that I can do your will. Let me become one of your trusted servants who understands your mind and heart. Then let me serve as your faithful representative everywhere I go, and everywhere you send me.