BECOME A BELIEVER IN CHRIST AND YOU WILL BE SAVED(Acts 16:22-34/Psalm 138:1-3,7-8/John 16:5-11)

BECOME A BELIEVER IN CHRIST AND YOU WILL BE SAVED

(Tuesday, May 28, 2019)

In the first reading today, Paul and Silas were flogged and thrown into prison, not for any wrong-doing, but because of the hostility against them. But it was in that prison that something supernatural happened as they were praying and singing God's praises, there was a strong earthquake, the doors flew open, and the chains fell from all the prisoners. It was quite obvious that God was intervening for His messengers.

It was also like what Jesus said in the gospel about what the Holy Spirit will do to show the world how wrong it was about sin, about who is in the right, and about judgement. Our share of turmoil may not be as dramatic as that of Paul and Silas. And when wrong is done to us, or when we are wrongly accused, our instinct may be that of retaliation. But an eye-for-an-eye and a tooth-for-a-tooth mentality have never brought about any good. Let us follow what Paul and Silas did.

Let us keep praying and singing God's praises in whatever situation we find ourselves—favourable or unfavorable. That will bring about an intervention of the Holy Spirit that will bring about God's judgment. In the Gospel also Jesus continues His farewell address to the disciples. He told them the reason why He was going. It will be an opportunity for the Spirit, the Advocate to come.

Jesus’ mission was both done and not done. Done because He had consummated His mission. Not done because salvation will continue to be preached to everyone. This time, the Spirit will come and continue the work. Since the Gospel will be preached to all the world, the Spirit will be perfect to do the work. The Spirit is, therefore, a manifestation of God’s presence. It is another fulfillment of God’s promise to be with us. We bid Jesus goodbye and was rightly sad for the separation. But it was temporary.In fact, it was replaced by the permanent presence of the Holy Spirit.

Let Us Pray: Lord Jesus, give me grace to hold unto you firmly and to open to you said that your Holy Spirit will come to dwell in me. Amen.