June 30, 2023 8:00 pm
Despite knowing that the electricity wasn’t working in our house after a strong storm, an inconveniently common occurrence in our neighborhood, I instinctively flipped on the light switch when I entered the room. Of course, nothing happened. I was still enveloped in darkness.
That experience—expecting light even when I knew the connection to the power source was broken—vividly reminded me of a spiritual truth. Too often we expect power, even as we fail to rely on the Spirit.
In 1 Thessalonians, Paul wrote of the way God caused the gospel message to come “not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction” (1:5). And when we accept God’s forgiveness, believers too have immediate access to the power of His Spirit in our lives. That power cultivates in us characteristics such as love, joy, peace, and patience (Galatians 5:22–23) and it empowers us with gifts to serve the church, including service, teaching, and mercy (1 Corinthians 12:28).
Paul warned his readers that it’s possible to “quench the spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19). We might restrict the power of the Spirit by ignoring God’s presence or rejecting His conviction (John 16:8). But we don’t have to live disconnected. God’s power is always available to His children.
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Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. Our reading titled, Connected to the Power Source, was written by Lisa M. Samra. Despite knowing that the electricity wasn't working in our house after a strong storm—an inconveniently common occurrence in our neighborhood—I instinctively flipped on the light switch when I entered the room.
Of course, nothing happened. I was still enveloped in darkness. That experience—expecting light even when I knew the connection to the power source was broken—vividly reminded me of a spiritual truth. Too often, we expect power even as we fail to rely on the Spirit. In 1 Thessalonians, Paul wrote of the way God caused the Gospel message to come not simply with words, but also with power—with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. And when we accept God's forgiveness, believers too have immediate access to the power of His Spirit in our lives. That power cultivates in us characteristics such as love, joy, peace, and patience. And it empowers us with gifts to serve the Church, including teaching, helping, and guiding. Paul warned his readers that it's possible to quench the Spirit. We might restrict the power of the Spirit by ignoring God's presence or rejecting His conviction.
But we don't have to live disconnected from Him. God's power is always available to His children. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from 1 Thessalonians, chapter 1, verses 4 and 5, and chapter 5, verse 19. For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that He has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.
You know how we lived among you for your sake. And now, chapter 5, verse 19. Do not quench the Spirit. Let's pray. Almighty God, help us to guard our hearts and remain fully reliant on you so that we don't, as Paul said, quench your Spirit and not experience your strength and power in our lives. Thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Thanks for listening today. My name is Alisha Reisinger, and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.
Whisper: medium.en / 2023-06-30 20:11:32 / 2023-06-30 20:13:55 / 2
