Day 50 - Full Sail

Take some time to read John 14:15-31. Jesus promises the coming of the Holy Spirit. In this chapter (and the two that follow), John gives us truths concerning this amazing gift. He will be with us forever (14:16); the world at large cannot accept Him (14:17); He lives with us and in us (14:17); He teaches us (14:26); He reminds us of Jesus’ words (14:26, 15:26); He convicts us of sin, shows us God’s righteousness, and announces God’s judgment on evil (16:8); He brings glory to Christ (16:14). The Holy Spirit has been active among people from the beginning of time, but after Pentecost (Acts 2) He came to live in all believers. Many people are unaware of the Holy Spirit’s activities, but to those who hear Christ’s words and understand the Spirit’s power, the Spirit gives a whole new way to look at life (Life Application Bible). And the promise of the Holy Spirit is for everyone who comes to Christ Jesus (Acts 2:38-39).

I’ve heard people say that if they had lived and walked with Jesus while He was on earth, they would make better decisions and be more firm in their faith because it would be first-hand and real. But Jesus’ disciples sometimes had difficulty with that, and they were His constant companions. Jesus knew this, and He promised them that the Holy Spirit would come and be with them to help them remember what He had taught them. The Holy Spirit can help us in the same way. When we read God’s Word, we can pray that the Holy Spirit will plant seeds of understanding in our minds, help us to have the mind of Christ, and remind us when we stray from it. Jesus had so much confidence in the impact of the Holy Spirit. He assured His disciples that it would actually be better for Him to return to heaven and send the Spirit! There are many blessings that come with and from the spirit, but none is greater than His witness:

• He is the voice of God in us reassuring us of our place in God’s family.


• He is the guarantee of our eternal salvation and destiny.


• He is the wind of heaven that fills our sails with the power to live for God and be witnesses for Him in the world!

I pray that the past 50 days have reconnected you with the power of the Holy Spirit and that you are more aware than ever of the transformation He has brought about in your heart. I also pray that we all will open the sail of our heart and mind so that we can catch a full sail of the wind that is the Holy Spirit.

Day 49 - Self-Control

I think there’s a good reason why self-control is listed last of the virtues that make up the fruit of the Spirit. It’s because to my mind, it takes all the others in practice to give me what it takes to practice self-control. One theologian calls self-control the “king of all virtues.” Self-control is defined in two ways: 1) the act of denying yourself and controlling your impulses, and 2) the trait of resolutely controlling your own behavior.

What are you tempted by that is sinful, expensive, or fattening? Are you able to resolutely control your temptation? How do you do that? Barclay, in his commentary on this passage, says, “Self-control is that great quality which comes to a man when Christ is in his heart, that quality which makes him able to live and to walk in the world and yet keep his heart and mind safe and under God’s control.”

Take a few minutes to read Matthew 4:1-11 concerning the temptations of Christ. This account is also found in Mark 1:12-13 and Luke 4:1-13.

Remember: Satan is real and so are his temptations. He is in the business of trying to get us to live our lives his way or our own way, rather than God’s way. When temptations seem especially strong, or when you think you can rationalize giving in, consider whether Satan may be trying to block God’s purposes for your life or for someone else’s life (Life Application Bible). It’s important to note that temptation itself is not a sin. It’s when we give in to a temptation and disobey God that is sinful (James 1:13-15).

I’ve observed that we are tempted when and where we are most vulnerable. Maybe we’re tired, lonely, stressed, faced with uncertainty, or trying to make big decisions when Satan tempts us. Or perhaps it’s the opposite; it’s when we are feeling in control and our pride takes over. It is why we are instructed to guard our hearts all of the time.

I am encouraged when I remember that Christ was fully human and experienced temptation firsthand just as I have. Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.” There is no way to overcome temptation without the power of the Holy Spirit. Even Jesus faced temptation with the Holy Spirit filling Him with the Word of God and power.

Sailing enthusiasts will tell you that shortcuts set you up for failure. It is so important to pay attention to detail and simply to things right. Likewise it makes no sense to begin our spiritual journey with great fervor and reliance on the Holy Spirit, only to slough-off in our battle against sin. We cannot set our direction according to our own desires and impulses and still hope to make good progress in our spiritual journey.

Do you pay attention and guard your heart? Are you willing to let the Holy Spirit lead you and transform your life? Open your heart-sail so it can catch the wind.

Day 48 - Gentleness

Have you ever gotten angry at the wrong time? Have you ever gotten angry at the right time? What was the difference in how you felt? What was the difference in the outcome of the situation?

Finish this simile: As ___________ as a lamb.

Did you choose the word “gentle?” Most likely you did because that’s the comparison we usually make. It’s even on standardized tests.

Can you think of a synonym for gentleness? The word most closely related to it is the word “meekness.” Meekness is defined as strength under control. That seems to me to fit for a definition for gentleness, as well. If you’ve ever seen the movie National Velvet, you understand the concept of gentling a horse. It is unthinkable to use anger or excessive strength to gentle an animal or a person.

In Ephesians 4, Paul talks to the Christians about working toward unity in the body of Christ. We are called to be representatives for Christ. That means people are watching our lives. What do they see? Do they see Christ in us? Do they see Christ in you? Do they see Christ in me? No one is ever going to be perfect here on earth, so we are to accept and love other in spite of their faults. When we see faults in our Christian brothers and sisters, we need to strive to be patient and gentle. That’s difficult whenever someone’s personality annoys you. Rather than dwell on their weakness or look for their faults, pray for that person. Then do even more—spend time with that person and see if you can learn to like them (Life Application Bible).

This struggle is not new to our times. Conflict and gentleness are linked in the Philippian church. Two sisters in Christ were struggling with each other and Paul actually appeals for their reconciliation in a very public way (Philippians 4:1-5). Then he seems to widen his scope and speak to the whole church. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near” (4:4-5). Roll that phrase around in your thoughts for a day or so… “Let your gentleness be evident to all.” Just as “a gentle answer turns away wrath” (Proverbs 15:1) so a gentle life strengthens relationships and blesses all your relationships.

Steering a sailboat takes a gentle touch. There are two methods of steering a sailboat: with a tiller and with a wheel (like a steering wheel). Both take some getting used to (according to the article on www.dummies.com), but each method requires a gentle hand. So what happens if you aren’t gentle when steering a sailboat? You guessed it—something as major as capsizing or even danger of injury to you and any passengers. But done correctly, gentle steering puts you right where you want to be—with a full sail. Choose at least one “challenging” relationship in your life, and let your gentleness be so evident that they couldn’t miss it. Make it the legacy you leave with them.

Day 47 - Faithfulness

The last three virtues listed as fruit of the Spirit are faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Though all the fruit of the Spirit affect others these are primarily concerned with our interior life, our core self.

Synonyms for faithfulness include trustworthiness and reliability. It means that which makes a person one on whom others can rely. I know quite a few trustworthy and reliable people, don’t you? They’re the ones you can count on. When they say they will do something or be somewhere, you don’t have to wonder whether they will or not.

One of my favorite stories in the Bible demonstrates faithfulness. It is the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace, and it is found in Daniel 3. As background, remember that these three young men had been drafted, along with Daniel, to serve King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon after he invaded and conquered Jerusalem. In chapter 3, we see where King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden image—90 feet tall—that he wanted all of the people to bow down and worship. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to offer worship to any idol; they only worshiped the true God. As a result, they were thrown into a fiery furnace to die. Even though these young men knew what would happen to them, they remained faithful. I love their response to the King as recorded in Daniel 3:16-18:

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

And God did take care of them. He sent an angel to keep them safe while in the furnace. When the king opened the furnace and saw that they were unharmed, he acknowledged God’s power and forbade anyone to talk against Him. Such faithfulness is inspiring, isn’t it? Staying faithful is expected from one who has been transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Sailors constantly keep their vessels in good condition and ready to raise the sails in anticipation of a good wind. They are faithful to their task and know that the reward will be a smooth running with their sail full of the mighty wind. Sometimes the greatest test of our faithfulness is simply waiting…waiting for the wind to blow. It is interesting that before the amazing day of Pentecost and the powerful out pouring of the Spirit like a mighty wind (Acts 2), Jesus told His disciples to wait (Acts 1:4-5).

Are you in a time of waiting?

What makes the wait difficult?

How does the presence of the Holy Spirit help you stay faithful during the wait?

Day 46 - Goodness

Goodness and kindness are related. However, if kindness is the comprehensive embrace of the gentle and gracious character of Christ Jesus, goodness is an expression of that character in beneficial actions towards others. This kind of goodness is noted for being directed toward someone that does not merit the action. Commentaries on this Galatians passage agree that the primary idea seems to be that goodness is generosity that springs from kindness.

Romans 12:9-21 is another passage of Scripture that gives Christians a set of virtues to which we can aspire. It also begins with love, and contains joy and peace, and some of the other facets of the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23. Let’s look specifically at verses 17-21:

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay”’ says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head”’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Wow. At first reading, this is a pretty tall order. I don’t have many enemies (I don’t think…), but to think about treating an enemy with the same goodness with which I treat my friends is difficult. But it is what Christians who are led by the Holy Spirit do. It takes practice. It takes being intentional about it.

If you read articles and stories surrounding the America’s Cup race, there are many instances where goodness triumphed over evil. On March 12, 2010 the cheating allegations of the 1983 race were revisited over a quarter of a century past the trophy ceremony. People take the integrity of the race seriously! There are often people who are intent on winning at any cost. But there are just as many people to whom goodness is important-more important than compromising their integrity to win a race.

At the end of the book of Genesis, we read of the reconciliation between Joseph and his brothers. Remember Joseph? He was sold into slavery by his brothers out of jealousy. God blessed Joseph for his faithfulness and he prospered greatly. Eventually, Joseph and his family were reunited. Read Genesis 50:18-21. Notice verse 20. Joseph is speaking to his brothers and says, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children. And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.” Joseph’s character and actions toward his brothers vividly illustrates the meaning of Holy Spirit goodness “directed toward someone that does not merit the action.”

How is your active goodness?

Are you intentional about letting the Holy Spirit transform your life so that you seek out opportunities to show goodness?

Day 45 - Kindness

Online dictionaries define “kindness” as:

• The quality of being warmhearted and considerate and humane and sympathetic
• Forgivingness: tendency to be kind and forgiving.

The kindness used in Galatians 5:22 is the divine kindness out of which God acts toward humanity. It is what the Old Testament means when it says that “God is good.” Christians are to show kindness by behaving toward others as God has behaved toward them (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 10).

They (whoever they is) say that dogs and children can sense when humans are kind. They signal that by wagging, licking, smiling, and being trusting, in general. Conversely, if they sense unkindness/meanness, they will growl, hide or cry. They are pretty accurate barometers of kindness.

Last Fall, we spent a significant amount of time studying the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. It would be accurate to describe the Samaritan as kind, as well as compassionate. Those two virtues often go hand in hand.

Ephesians 4:32 tells us, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

In one of the most tender and compelling passages in the New Testament (Matthew 11:28-30) Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” I feel more rested just reading His words. But here is an important connection for understanding kindness. The English word “easy” in verse 30 translates the same Greek word translated “kindness” (Galatians 5:22 and Ephesians 4:32). Jesus models kindness for us. The word “easy” in this context does not mean frivolous or effortless. It means “a comprehensive demonstration of everything that is appropriate to grace, salvation, humanitarian concerns and the gentleness of Christ Jesus.”

Proverbs 19:17 says, “He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he has done.”

In each of these passages of Scripture (Ephesians 4:32 & Proverbs 19:17), kindness as a virtue (as well as a facet of the fruit of the Spirit) is an expectation of one who has been transformed by the Holy Spirit’s power. Although a boat is an inanimate object, sailors recognize that they must treat their boat—and certainly its sail—gently and kindly in order to get the most out of it.

God is good all of the time. He treats us with kindness, even when we don’t exhibit that same kindness to others.

Have you been lacking in kindness to others?

How can you change your life so that you reflect this facet of the fruit of the Spirit?

Day 44 - Patience

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary defines patience as the quality of putting up with others, even when one is severely tried. While, to me, that sounds like someone who can sit and drive in Atlanta’s traffic without yelling at the cars around them it really defines the character of God. Our Father is incredibly patient with us. He has been incredibly patient with man throughout all of time. He was patient with the Israelites, despite their repeated defections to worship idols. He shows loving patience in that He is slow to anger.

Isn’t that a great phrase—slow to anger? It’s easier for me to be slow to anger if I’m working with someone who is new at something—a baby just learning, someone new to our country, that kind of situation. But God is slow to anger with His children who have been His children for years and years. That kind of patience is incredible.

If there is any walk of life that has to develop patience and demonstrates it regularly, it would be the life of a farmer. Farmers must wait patiently for their crops to grow; nothing they can do will hurry the process. But the farmer doesn’t just plant the crops and then hope everything goes okay. There’s a lot of work to do to make sure the conditions are right for a good harvest. In the same way, we have to wait patiently for Christ’s return. But we don’t just hope everything goes okay; there is much work we can do to advance the Kingdom of God.

James 5 addresses patience, and specifically patience in suffering. James uses the analogy of a farmer. He encourages Christians to stand firm because the Lord’s coming is near. He also reminds them of Job, in the Old Testament, who was known for his patience. James wants those brothers and sisters in Christ to recognize the importance of patience.

Some days ago in this 50-Day Study, we talked about what a sailor does when there is no wind. He doesn’t just sit there hoping for a puff of breeze. There are things to do so that when the wind does blow again, he will be ready. He will position his sail to catch the wind, the studies the weather, he makes sure that his sails are mended and cared for; he makes sure that everything on the boat is sea-worthy. Then, when the wind comes, he opens his sail fully to catch that wind.

How’s your patience? Remember, patience is a facet of the fruit of the Spirit. If you have been transformed by the Spirit, you are growing the fruit of the Spirit.

What are a few situations in your life that require an extra measure of patience?

What are you doing in between episodes?

Do you find yourself primarily complaining about the irritant, or are you preparing yourself for a greater capacity for patience?

How will today’s study help you in the next episode where your patience will be tested?

Day 43 - Peace

Here’s a little piece of trivia for you: The word for “peace” occurs eighty times in the New Testament. It occurs in every book of the New Testament. How about that? It must be significant.

There is a section of Scripture in Colossians 3:1-17 that is entitled “Rules for Holy Living.” It’s a subsection of a section called “What Christians Should Do.” Take a few minutes to read this passage in God’s Word.

It begins with an encouragement for Christians to set their minds on things above, which means that we are to strive to make heaven’s priorities our daily practice. Paul encourages the Colossian Christians to put to death those practices that give in to earthly, carnal desires, as well as greed and idolatry. He reminds them that they used to practice all those things, but they have been made new creatures in Christ.

Paul then calls them God’s chosen people—holy, dearly loved, compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. He urges them to bear with each other’s weaknesses and to be forgiving—as Christ forgave them. And then he says for them to put on love, which binds all of those virtues together in “perfect unity.”

Take a closer look at verse 15: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.” The word rule, here, is the word that is equivalent to an umpire or a referee. After all, it is in our hearts where conflicts take place (James 4:1). And who better to referee those conflicts than the peace of Christ? So how do we do that? We ask ourselves this: which choice will promote peace in our souls and in our Christian community?

Sometimes we enjoy the challenge of conflict, especially when the motives, engagement, and outcomes bring out the best in those participating. In athletics, great competition among equals can strengthen mutual respect. But within the circumstances of competition and conflict there is the very real possibility that Satan can find a foothold (Ephesians 4:25-27). So when all is said and done, we must open our hearts and minds to the rest and gentleness of the peace of Christ. In short, make peace your reputation. People are much more likely to offer friendship and assistance to a person of peace. They are also more likely to share their hurts and difficulties with a gentle and peaceful spirit. Seasoned sailors don’t mind the challenge of choppy seas occasionally, but to a person, they all prefer to run through navigable waters with a full wind in their sail.

Paul ends this section encouraging the Christians to be thankful in everything: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

Do you let the peace of Christ referee the conflicts in your heart?

Are you willing to turn them over to Him and His peace?

Day 42 - Joy

My mother used to say to me, “Happiness is what you feel: joy is what you are.” I didn’t understand that for a long time. But I get it. The closest thing to joy that the world feels is happiness. And they may seem like they could be related. But happiness is dependent on circumstances; joy is not. Joy is what is in your heart as a result of the Holy Spirit’s work in you.

Take a look at the tiny book of 3 John, especially verses 3 and 4. It says: “It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” If you are a parent of grown children, perhaps you have felt great joy when you heard that your children are faithful and active in their walk with the Lord. If you are a grandparent, you have likely felt the joy of hearing your grandchild tell you that they love you.

In the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15, do you remember how the father would wait and watch every day to see if his son had returned? Do you remember the description Luke gave when at last the father did see his son coming home? The father ran to meet him. He threw his arms around his son.

Joy is particularly full when what was lost spiritually is found (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 10). Take a few minutes to read Acts 16:16-34. Pay particular attention to verse 34. Luke records: “The jailer brought them (Paul and Silas) into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.” Do you remember r this event? Paul and Silas had been thrown into prison because they had cast out a demon from a slave girl. Her owners were not happy about that and filed a complaint. As a result, Paul and Silas did some jail time. During the night, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God. Suddenly, there was a great earthquake and the prison doors flew open and the chains had come loose. He was sure that the prisoners had escaped and because he knew he would be put to death for their escape, he was going to kill himself. But Paul and Silas stopped him, and they told him that they were all there. Immediately, the jailer knew this was the work of God.

While there is happiness to be felt and found in what we might term “having a good day” it takes the joy of the Holy Spirit to sing hymns of praise when treated unjustly. We can find ourselves imprisoned by someone else’s poor treatment, prejudice, and unfair tactics. But with the Holy Spirit, there is still the power and perspective to be joyful.

Have you felt that joy? How can you tell the difference between the joy of the Lord and a sense of happiness? I wonder how the joy of Paul and Silas and later, the joy of the jailer, impacted the other prisoners at the Philippian jail

Day 41 - Love

1 Corinthians 13 is one of the best-known chapters in the Bible. It is referred to as the “Love Chapter” and is used in many marriage ceremonies. It is fitting that love should be the first on the list of the Spirit’s fruit. Every Christian feels love. 1 John 4:8 tells us that “God is love.” The last verse in the Love chapter says that “the greatest of these is love.”

It is wonderful feeling to know that you are loved. This love from God is unconditional, transforming, and unchangeable. Because of this love, Christ died on the cross for us. This love is present in us even though we willfully sin. And because the Spirit lives in us—and He is characterized by love –we are to show love to other Christians, as well as those living in the world.

John 13:35 quotes Jesus, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” So how can we love others? By helping when it’s not convenient, by giving when it hurts, by spending our energy on the welfare of others instead of ourselves, by receiving hurts from others without complaining or fighting back—that’s how we love others. But this kind of loving is hard to do, isn’t it? However, that’s how “all men will know” that we belong to Christ.

John 15:12-13 tells us, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” We are to love each other as Jesus loved us, and He loved us enough to give His life for us. We may not have to die for someone, but there are other ways to practice sacrificial love: listening, helping, encouraging, giving. Think of someone in particular who needs this kind of love today. Give all the love you can, and then try to give a little more (Life Application Bible).

Can you imagine catching enough wind (that is, the Holy Spirit) in our sails (our lives) that we have enough love and more to share? Do you sometimes run out of spiritual energy when you are trying to love others this way? Think back to the story of the Good Samaritan. His love is instructive. It is perceptive, thoughtful, risky, engaging, and comprehensive. Jesus tells that story specifically to illustrate his kind of love, and how we display it.

Day 40 - Practice Makes Perfect

Spiritual warfare is real. Satan really does want to distract us and mislead us so that we take our focus off of the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul, in writing to the Galatians, very clearly describes spiritual warfare in two phrases: “the works of the flesh” and “the fruit of the Spirit.” Please don’t get the impression that these two forces are equal; they are not. The Spirit is infinitely more powerful.

However, if we rely on our own wisdom, we will make wrong choices. If we try to achieve the qualities listed as the fruit of the Spirit by our own might and effort, we will fail. Galatians 5:16-21 contains a list of the works of the flesh—the evil desires that every person faces at some point in their life. The only way to be free of these evil desires is to let the Holy Spirit’s power work in us.

Ignoring the evil desires is not effective at all—in fact, doing so demonstrates that the Holy Spirit is not living in us, and we have not been transformed; or that we have tasted the Spirit and are now grieving Him by our ambivalence toward His presence in us. These evil desires—or works of the flesh—are to be dealt with decisively. They are overcome through the power of the Spirit.

Galatians 6:22-26 lists the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is different from spiritual gifts. We’ve studied that the Holy Spirit gives us each gifts as He sees fit. The fruit of the Spirit is in every Christian who has been transformed by the Holy Spirit’s power. So, every one of us has all the facets of this fruit.

Over the next several days, we will be looking at each facet of the fruit of the Spirit. These virtues that are the Spirit’s fruit don’t necessarily need to be classified, although they do seem to fall into three categories (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 10):

1. The first three seem to be Christian habits of the mind and are directed God-ward,

2. The second three deal with the Christian’s relationship with others—they are more social virtues, and

3. The last three concern the Christian as he is to be in himself.

Do you remember our Beginner Sailing Tips? This is the list for those who are new to sailing and we’ve looked at several of them. These help folks master the basics of sailing so that they can be effective and reap all the benefits associated with it. This list concludes with this tip: Practice makes perfect. As we grow toward a life that catches the wind of the Spirit, this is a good tip for us to remember as well: practice makes perfect.

Day 39 - Be the Best You Can Be

The Spirit gives us gifts—each one of us—that bless the Body.

Psalm 139:13-14

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

When you see a newborn, especially your own, aren’t you in awe of God’s miracle of life? When I read what the psalmist says in the above verse, I know that God is amazing and His power is awesome.

In our study yesterday, we read how the Holy Spirit has given each one of us gifts as He sees fit. We don’t all have the same gifts and some people have more than one. Turn again to 1 Corinthians 12:12-31. Paul compares the body of Christ—His church—to our human bodies. Each physical body part functions in a specific way—not like any other part—so that, working together, we are complete. Likewise, in the church each member has a different function. And when we work together, we are complete.

The church is composed of many types of people from a variety of backgrounds with a multitude of gifts and abilities. But despite the differences, all believers have one thing in common—faith in Christ. All believers are baptized by one Holy Spirit into one body of believers, the church. We don’t lose our individual identities, but we have an overriding oneness in Christ. When a person becomes a Christian, the Holy Spirit takes up residence, and they are born into God’s family. The same Holy Spirit completely fills our innermost beings. As members of God’s family, we may have different interests and gifts, but we have a common goal (Life Application Bible).

We are encouraged, just as Paul encouraged the Corinthian believers, to discover and develop our gifts and see how we can serve Christ’s body with the gifts given to us. In this passage Paul also surfaces two barriers to the maximizing of our gifts. First we might declare ourselves (12:14-20) to be of minor value or importance to the body. This means we neglect the body by not giving our gift for their good. Second, we declare others to be of lesser value or importance and imagine them as dispensable (12:21-26). So whether by underestimating or overestimating the value of our gifts, the body of Christ is wounded.

If you’ve ever been to a marina and seen where boats are tied up, one thing you will notice is the difference in sizes and types of boats. Some are huge and powerful looking, some are sleek and graceful looking, and some look like they are barely held together with baling wire and duct tape. But when they are out on the water, each boat moves through the water, using the attributes it was given.

How are you using your gift(s) from God?

Are you opening yourself up to the Holy Spirit’s leading?

Day 38 - There Is a Gift for You

The Spirit gives us gifts–each one of us—that bless the Body.

Have you noticed that some people sing a whole lot better than other people? And have you ever noticed that some people are just gifted athletically, and some are not? And surely you’ve noticed that there are some people who aren’t bothered in the least about getting up in front of large groups of people and speaking. From time to time, we may wish we were as gifted as another person in a specific area. At that point, we’re usually either motivated to improve ourselves or we accept our own limitation and move on.

In Galatians 5:25, we are called to “keep in step” with the Spirit. But in the same context, Paul is also warning the Galatians to beware of conceit, provoking each other and envying each other. How does the Holy Spirit fit into this picture? When we live a life in step with the Holy Spirit, He gives us whatever gifts He sees fit for us to have and use. Open your Bible and take a look at 1 Corinthians 12:1-11. The spiritual gifts given to each person by the Holy Spirit are special abilities that are to be used to minister to the needs of the body of believers. There are many gifts, people have different gifts, some people have more than one gift, and one gift is not superior to another. All spiritual gifts come from the Holy Spirit, and their purpose is to build up Christ’s body, the church (Life Application Bible).

The Life Application Bible notes point this out: The Holy Spirit decides which gifts each believer should have. We are responsible to use and sharpen our gifts, but we can take no credit for what God has freely given us. We need to remember these two central points: 1) Properly used, spiritual gifts are not self-serving but serve the whole body of Christ [see verse 7], and 2) Each gift becomes practically useless when used without love. As we seek to identify, utilize, and develop the gifts God has given us, we need to make loving God and loving our fellow Christians our highest motives.

Just as the wind catches the open sail and moves the boat across the water, the wind that is the Holy Spirit can fill us with a gift or gifts to bless those around us and move our vessels—our lives—as a blessing to others. When viewed through this lens, I can cherish my own gifts, overcome my envy of others, and actually rejoice when someone else exercises their gift(s).

The Holy Spirit has given you gifts for the common good, just as He sees fit. Are you open to using them for His purposes and desires?

How can you prepare to be more available and submissive to His will?

Day 37 - Things Change

Because of the Spirit, we abound with hope and are filled with joy and peace.

Several days ago, we looked at the story of Cornelius from Acts 10. What a huge paradigm shift for the Jews! All of a sudden, the very people they had grown up kind of despising were eligible for God’s gift of salvation. It wasn’t just your everyday Jewish Christian who had some trouble digesting this. Even the disciples and elders in Jerusalem wanted to talk with Peter and have him explain his actions.

Turn to Acts 11:1-18 and read this section where Peter explains his actions. Remember that most Jewish believers thought that God offered salvation only to the Jews because God had given His law to them—they were the Chosen. Other Jewish believers would agree that Gentiles (someone who was not a Jew) could become Christians, but only if they “converted” to the Jewish way of life first and followed all the Jewish laws and traditions (Acts 15:5-11). Neither group was right. God did choose the Jewish people and taught them His laws so that they could bring His word and message of salvation to all people. This was the original promise and covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3; Galatians 3:6-9).

When Peter brought his story concerning the conversion of Cornelius to the believers in Jerusalem, it shocked them. What shocked them the most was that Peter had eaten with Gentiles! And in their minds the Gentiles were unclean...weren’t they?

Peter gave them a play-by-play account of the whole thing—from his trance on the rooftop to God’s insistence not to call anything He made unclean to the baptisms of Cornelius and his household. Notice verses 15-18:

As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God? When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”

When someone’s life is changed by the Spirit, isn’t it a tremendous thing? It was powerful in the day of Peter and Cornelius and it is still powerful today.

If you’ve ever watched television coverage of the America’s Cup race, you’ve probably noticed that the media shows you the days when nearly every vessel is running with a full sail of wind. Every crew member is at their peak as the boats slice through the waves. It’s beautiful, isn’t it? So, too, are the lives lived with a full sail of the wind of the Holy Spirit.

Are you running with a full sail? Do you want to be?

Day 36 - Hope Is Powerful

Because of the Spirit, we abound with hope and are filled with joy and peace.

Thich Nhat Hanh (a Vietnamese monk, activist, and writer) once said, “Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.”

Historian George Iles wrote, “Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark.”

Hope has been defined as “expectant desire.” Hope is incredibly powerful. It can keep us going for a long time in the face of overwhelming adversity. Hope gives us something to hang on to in turbulent times.

As Christians, we have hope, in fact, we overflow with it! Take a look at Romans 15:5-13. This section of Scripture is at the end of a section entitled “The Weak and the Strong.” Verse 13 tells us, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” We can look at this a couple of ways and be uplifted either way. We can take the approach that because of the Holy Spirit living in us, we are filled with joy and peace (two facets of the fruit of the Spirit), and because of that, we overflow with hope. Or we can take the approach that because of the Holy Spirit living and moving in us, we overflow with hope and as a result, are filled with joy and peace. Either way we look at it, we are the beneficiaries of the abundant blessings bestowed by the Holy Spirit.

In this section of Scripture, Paul was talking to a very diverse culture and community. It was made up of Jews and Gentiles, slaves and free people, rich and poor, strong and weak. Its very diversity made it difficult for each group of people to be accepting of all other groups of people. But Paul’s advice to them is good for us today: Accept others as Christ has accepted you, and God is given the glory. Earlier in the same letter, Paul writes of the Holy Spirit pouring out the love of God into their hearts (Romans 5:1-5). Again there is the idea that we are overflowing because of the abundant gifts of the Spirit. The peace, joy, and hope of God are all qualities of His love in our hearts. Their ability (and ours) to love each other is based in the transforming presence of the Spirit. He brings us a shared hope, peace and love.

Having something in common with someone goes a long way toward forming a connection with them. When people who sail meet other people who sail, there is an immediate connection. Their passion for sailing provides a bond for fellowship. How much more should our love for our Christian brothers and sisters provide those same bonds?

The Holy Spirit has provided us everything we need for a rich and transformed life. Have you accepted that?

Day 35 - Been There, Done That

Where the Spirit is, there is freedom and life.

In order to really appreciate freedom, one must (to a certain extent) have experienced some of slavery or imprisonment. Those who have been baptized into Christ know that we were once slaves to a life of sin. The blood of Christ washes away our sins and frees us from that bondage (Romans 6:1-7).

In Titus 3:1-11, Paul is mentoring Titus, giving him tips and thoughts on what to tell the Christians on the island of Crete, where Titus was serving. He wants Titus to remind those Christians about their former lives of slavery to sin. He wants to remind them of the sickening ways they used to behave. But he doesn’t want them to dwell on that time. In verses 4-7, he says:

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we have done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

This is such a heartening thing to hear and read even today. It’s sometimes easy to forget where we’ve been and how we’ve changed. It’s sometimes easy to forget some of the terrible things we’ve done and said. It’s also sometimes easy to dwell too long on those sinful things and let ourselves spiral downward, getting stuck in the past. We need reminding of how Christ came and gave His life so that our sins would be forgiven. We need to be reminded of the gift of grace that God has so generously lavished on us. We need to be reminded of how the Spirit renews us and empowers us to live a life reflecting the glory of God to others.

People who have sailed for a very long time can hardly remember a time when they didn’t know how to sail. They have practiced correct sailing every time the opportunity presented itself. When they weren’t able to go out on the water, they thought about sailing, they read about sailing, they talked with others about sailing.

I often hear believers reflect on their missed opportunities to witness. It is almost like they feel guilty about not sharing the message of Jesus with others. But maybe the sailing metaphors can serve us here. Those who allow themselves to get totally wrapped up in a particular focus in life seem to have little trouble sharing that passion with others.

Is your Christianity like that? Do you practice it constantly?

Is it a way of life for you? How can you make it so?

Day 34 - I Am Not In Control...He Is

Where the Spirit is, there is freedom and life.

Do you ever watch Extreme Makeover Home Edition? Don’t the builders and renovators do an amazing job with some of those houses? When the inhabitants get to see their homes after they’ve been made over, they are incredibly overwhelmed. Most of the time, they cry...as do I.

Look at 2 Corinthians 5:1-10. Paul is describing Extreme Makeover Eternal Edition, isn’t he? He contrasts our earthly bodies and our future heavenly, transformed bodies. He is very intentional when describing the physical versus the spiritual. The physical is described as a tent while our spiritual home is called a house. When I think of a tent, I imagine a temporary and transportable shelter. It’s like the Holy Spirit is on a life long camping trip with us. He dwells with us right now in all of our momentary troubles and travels. But the entire time He is reminding us to keep our eyes fixed not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. And no matter how much I struggle while on the camping trip called life on earth, I can have complete confidence in my eternal destination because the Holy Spirit is my guarantee!

You might struggle with having or feeling this confidence. Your sail may not be full of His wind. So how do you know that the Spirit is present? Do you have any evidence? What about when we are in a situation and a specific Scripture comes to mind seemingly out of the blue? What about the times we are convicted of sin? Or what about the times when we restrain from selfish behavior? What about when we are prompted to love? All of these are evidences that the Spirit is present and active. The Spirit is actively transforming us as we let Him lead us. And knowing that we have a home prepared for us weakens the grip of worry about our eternal life. These are all evidences of His presence in our lives. And ultimately the Spirit at work in us gives us freedom. It allows us to live a life that exemplifies Christ and His teachings. There is nothing like that anywhere else.

If you Google sailing, you will find blog after blog and forum after forum of people who love sailing and want to tell others how wonderful it is. Their lives are so transformed by their love for sailing, especially when they have had the wind in their sails and seem to be skimming over the water. They speak of such a feeling of freedom that transcends earthbound life.

That’s what the Holy Spirit can do for Christians, but the freedom we experience is immeasurably more comprehensive then just a physical or temporary experience of sailing. Are you willing to let Him have that control?

Day 33 - Home Free

Where the Spirit is, there is freedom and life.

Do you remember the last time you played hide-and-seek? Were you found or did you get to come in “free?” As a kid, I probably had about a 50% average—it was pretty evenly split between being found and getting to come in free. But on the times I found the perfect hiding place and got to come home free, it was great!

Take a few minutes to read 2 Corinthians 3:7-18.

In this passage, Paul reminds the Corinthians of the Old Law (the Ten Commandments) which were written on tablets of stone. He reminds them that although that Law was glorious because it was from God, it was also the Law that brought death. He goes on to remind them of the even more glorious covenant that Jesus brought because it brings righteousness and freedom.

What kind of freedom do you suppose Paul is talking about? Again, the Life Application Bible says it well:

Those who were trying to be saved by keeping the Old Testament law were soon tied up in rules and ceremonies. But now, through the Holy Spirit, God provides freedom from sin and condemnation. When we trust Christ to save us, He removes our heavy burden of trying to please Him and our guilt for failing to do so. By trusting Christ we are loved, accepted, forgiven, and freed to live for Him.

Paul makes the case that we are to be bold because of this glorious covenant and because of the power of the Spirit within us. The Spirit is the one who speaks these promises and assurances into our hearts when we turn to God in openness and humility. Our boldness comes from His presence in our lives.

People who love to sail go on and on about the freedom they feel when they are running with the wind—when the sail on their boat has caught the wind. Wouldn’t you love to live your life with that kind of freedom? You can. We can.

What “tablets of stone” in your life keep you from enjoying a full sail of wind?

Are you willing to leave those behind and enjoy the freedom that the Spirit brings?

Day 32 - Forgetting Where We Started

The Holy Spirit convicts people of their sins.

Have you watched any of the episodes of the new TV show called Undercover Boss? Each episode features a senior executive at a major corporation, working incognito as a new entry-level hire in his or her company for week. Their mission is to find out how the company really works…and identify some of the unsung heroes among their employees. In a couple of the episodes, the “undercover boss” recognized how far away from its origins—in both concept and practice—the business has come. When the bosses have revealed themselves, several have admitted their disappointment with the changes.

In Galatians 3:1-14, Paul takes the Galatian Christians to task for seemingly “forgetting” that their spiritual growth came from the Spirit, rather than their own efforts. He had to remind them that they began their Christian lives in the power of the Holy Spirit; therefore, they needed to grow by the Spirit. Their insistence on keeping the Jewish laws had actually caused them to take steps backward in their faith development.

The Galatians knew that they had received the power of the Holy Spirit when they believed...not when they obeyed the law. I guess they felt that faith alone was just too easy and that they needed to follow some rules. Paul actually confronts them with the question, “Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort” (3:3). We have fallen into that snare ourselves from time to time, haven’t we? People still try to get closer to God by following rules. And while following some spiritual disciplines and performing acts of service may help us grow spiritually, we must not let them take the place of the Holy Spirit within us or let them become the only thing we do to develop our faith.

The Holy Spirit gives us great power to live for God. Isn’t that enough for us? Often, we get bored or discouraged whenever we feel like we’ve gotten into a rut. But the Spirit uses those times to give us the gift of persistence, if we’ll pay attention to it.

When a sail catches the wind, there is great power. When there is no wind, or when the boat is not positioned to run with the wind, it is easy to become discouraged. But experienced sailors, who have developed persistence, have learned to stay focused and active in positioning until they can catch the wind again.

Have you forgotten lately that your spiritual growth comes from the Holy Spirit?

What can you change in the way you are living your faith so that you can catch the wind of the Spirit?

Day 31 - Instruments of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit convicts people of their sins.

Recently, I’ve read some newspaper articles online concerning local judges who have admitted to taking money for handing out pre-determined sentences—regardless of what the evidence and testimony have been. I am really discouraged when I hear about and know about corruption of justice. Oh, I know it exists…at least cognitively. But when I see the faces of people in the news who were wrongly convicted or wrongly set free, it only intensifies the painful reality.

I don’t envy judges at all. They rarely get to see the good side of people, I imagine. I would guess that judges see the dark side of life a whole lot more often than they get to see the good side. Even when people are convicted of doing wrong, statistical data shows that conviction isn’t necessarily a long-term deterrent for folks who choose a lifestyle that is not in compliance with the law.

In 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10, Paul expresses his thankfulness for the Christians in Thessalonica because of their embrace of God’s Word and their faith and obedience to that Word. He acknowledges the suffering and persecution that the Thessalonian Christians lived with on a daily basis. He affirms that their lives changed when they believed, obeyed, and accepted the power that the Holy Spirit gave them. The Life Application Bible makes this note about verse 5: “The Holy Spirit changes people when they believe the gospel. When we tell others about Christ, we must depend on the Holy Spirit to open their eyes and convince them that they need salvation. God’s power changes people—not our cleverness or persuasion. Without the work of the Holy Spirit, our words are meaningless. The Holy Spirit not only convicts people of sin but also assures them of the truth of the gospel.”

This reminds me of a song we have sung from time to time that is based on the words penned by St. Francis of Assisi. Its lyrics say:

Lord, make us instruments of Your peace.
Where there is hatred let Your love increase.
Lord, make us instruments of Your peace.
Walls of pride and prejudice shall cease.
When we are Your instruments of peace.

An instrument has the capacity for sound, beautiful music, and inspiration, but it cannot play itself. A musician, especially one who is gifted, practiced, and skilled, can bring out the best in the instrument. Judgment—holy, righteous, loving and compassionate judgment—can help tune us to the holy and righteous life God desires. When the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin it is for our good, our benefit. He is not a corrupt judge, jaded by the darkness of our world. He is pure and holy, seeking to inspire and increase the image and character of God in our lives.

Think of one way you could become more open to the conviction of the Holy Spirit in your life. Is there a particular area where you know you need His guidance?

Day 30 - Conviction

The Holy Spirit convicts people of their sins.

After having watched much of the Winter Olympics recently, I am glad not to be an event judge. I’m not talking about the timed events; those are pretty much cut and dried. It was actually during an ice dancing event that the thought crossed my mind. Even as I heard the commentators talk about point deductions for this or that, I am glad I wasn’t the one to have to judge and decide. I feel that same way whenever I watch a baseball game. I’m glad that I am not the one calling balls, strikes, and outs.

Please read John 16:5-16.

Jesus gives His disciples the equivalent of some if-then statements. He basically said that if He didn’t die, then He couldn’t forgive their (or our) sins, then He couldn’t rise again, then He couldn’t defeat death. If He did not go back to the Father, then the Holy Spirit couldn’t come. As a human, Christ was limited to being in one place at a time. His going back to the Father gave Him the opportunity to be present to the whole world through the Holy Spirit.

Jesus then goes on to say in verses 8 and 9, “When He [The Holy Spirit] comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me...”

There are three important tasks of the Holy Spirit: 1) convicting the world of its sin and calling it to repentance, 2) revealing the standard of God’s righteousness to anyone who believes, and 3) demonstrating Christ’s judgment over Satan (Life Application Bible).

But what specifically does this mean? It‘s not like the world doesn’t know about sin. The Holy Spirit convicts men concerning sin because men do not believe in Christ. Consider this: to believe in Christ leads to salvation and obedience to His will. Rejecting Christ is to choose to remain under judgment before the righteous and Holy God. We can rationalize our sin in both “standard” and “solution.” We can choose to be our own standard and just decide whatever is right or wrong in our own eyes and with our own inward compass. We can also rationalize that we do not need Christ to solve our sin problem. In both instances we are cutting God off from the core of our lives. It makes little sense to desire life, but to cut ourselves off from the source.

Have you ever watched the TV show Deadliest Catch? Occasionally, whenever the captain of the boat decides to do something dangerous—weather-wise or seamanship-wise—there is a price to pay. Sometimes that price is death. When we remove the Holy Spirit as the captain of our life, there is a price to pay.

Have you allowed the Holy Spirit to convict you of sin?

Are you willing to believe and obey?

What, if anything, is holding you back?

Day 29 - Finding a Place

Through the Spirit we enjoy adoption as children of the Father.

Have you ever felt isolated or excluded? It’s a crummy feeling, isn’t it? We moved a few times when I was a kid and each time I had to enter a new school, I dreaded it. But once I got there, made some friends, got a schedule and routine, it was better. In addition to a new school, sometimes we had to find a new church home. That was also an anxious time. Attending a new church can be unsettling, as well. At least, until you realize you are worshipping with your brothers and sisters. This place of true belonging is one of the most beautiful blessings of our adoption into the family of God.

Ephesians 2:11-22 addresses this very topic. Paul begins this section of Scripture by asking the Ephesians to remember when they were considered unclean and heathen. He tells them to remember that they were separate from Christ, without hope and without God. Then he reminds them that all that has changed. “They have been brought near through the blood of Christ.” I can just imagine those Christians cheering! Look at verses 17-19:

He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household...

Isn’t being adopted as a child of the Father a wonderful thing?

I have made references to people who enjoy boating and how they are committed to community. Did you know that there are websites for folks who sail so that they can be in touch with others who sail? One of those sites has this description: “Social networking for sailing people. Find crew and boats. Share photos. Meet new people.”

In much the same way, we as Christian brothers and sisters are part of a larger community. We all enjoy the adoption as children of the Father through the Holy Spirit.

Do you feel a part of the family of God?

If not, what do you think is holding you back from enjoying your adoption as a child of His?

Day 28 - A Member of the Club

Through the Spirit we enjoy adoption as children of the Father.

College sports have some of the most faithful and loyal fans...ever. You can be walking in a crowd (especially at the SEC tournament) and all around you perfect strangers are calling out to one another. You can hear “Roll Tide!” and “War Eagle!” and “Chomp ‘em, Gators!” and other odd phrases being echoed all around you. And the chances are pretty good that these people don’t even know each other. But something about them (usually a school insignia that I have failed to see) tips them off to each other and they call out, knowing that a kindred spirit will recognize and answer the call.

In Acts 10, we read the story of the conversion of Cornelius. Cornelius has the distinction of being the first Gentile convert. (FYI—A Gentile was a person who was not of Jewish heritage.) Up until Cornelius, Jesus’ disciples spread His message only among their Jewish countrymen. Though many of them rejected that message, God’s eternal plan always included the Gentiles. Cornelius is the first such “convert” in the new covenant.

Take a few minutes to read Acts 10:24-48. In this section of Scripture, we see Peter obeying God’s command to take His gospel beyond the borders of Israel.

Think about this. Peter, a Jewish Christian, had been taking the gospel to his fellow Jews (God’s chosen nation) and many had rejected that gospel. Now, Peter was instructed to take this gospel to people that he and others had considered "heathens"—not worthy of the gospel. Imagine the brain-disconnect for Peter! But from this time forward both Jews and Gentiles were flocking to faith in Christ. As a result persecution began to increase among the Jews and Gentiles, also.

The persecution of Christians in the first century became so intense that many were forced to meet in secret. In order to indicate among believers that Christians met in specific houses, they would scrawl the sign of the ><> in an obscure place on or around the door—noticeable only if you knew where to look. This was like the first "fish" locator, spiritually speaking.

Boat people are unique. They are a people who truly believe in their community. If you have the opportunity to be where people are boating; pay attention to their sense of community. There is always someone willing to lend a hand, to share what they have, assist in rescue, and to include others who are also boat people. It’s like a club. They just seem to recognize each other.

As Christians, are we that mindful of including and being around other Christians?

Do you recognize the need to be with other Christians, to strive to learn from them, to be a part of that family?