Passage of the Day:
As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body[a] in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.[b] The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8.
Reflection:
Attending a secular university was probably one of the best things that I could experience early in my faith journey. When I attended the University of Delaware, they were rated the number one-party school in the nation. This was largely due to a bar just off campus, the Stone Balloon, which at the time consumed more Budweiser beer than any establishment in the United States. Seeking temporary pleasures, I devoted my first semester of college to becoming cool and popular. Like members of the Church in Thessalonica, I learned the hard way. Despite the initial highs, chasing after passionate lust and sexual immorality left me morally and spiritually bankrupt. During a winter retreat before Spring semester began, I was introduced to faith inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Prayerful Action:
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God, Romans 8:26-27.
Fueling your Faith this Spiritual Season:
It was a little after midnight, when I heard college students started to gather in the basement of our conference center. Apparently, this was called an Open Mic, where students could come up to the front and share what God taught them on this retreat. As I sat in the back, I felt this sensation from beneath me as if my seat was on fire. I didn’t want to get up, especially since I had already embarrassed myself, stammering and stuttering during a prayer the day before. Yet, the Holy Spirit made me so uncomfortable that I finally made my way to the front. I don’t remember stuttering a word, sharing how I had known Jesus as my Savior and friend, but not as the Lord of my life. I was a lukewarm Christian, sick and tired of being a hypocrite. It was on this winter’s night in 1988, that faith inspired by the Holy Spirit, brought me to my knees. This is where Jesus become Lord of all. While I still struggle to remain true to Jesus from time to from, faith is a journey of a lifetime with twists and turns. Like yesterday’s theme, the only thing that counts in faith expressing itself in love.
Song of the Day:
Final Thoughts:
The lyrics of today’s song changed my life and perspective during the Coronavirus. May the lyrics of this spontaneous worship montage result in faith inspired by the Holy Spirit.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 