by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you. [2 timothy 1:14]
as we journey through this holy week, the week Christ gave himself up on the cross, let us remember the miracle in this text. we, who were once enemies of Christ and running from him, have now not only been saved, but have also been given the gift of the Holy Spirit and now, the third person of the trinity dwells in us!
as Christ walked his last week on this earth and made his final preparations before his death, it was his unity with the Father and the Holy Spirit that enabled him and gave him the strength to follow his own calling and to walk it out. now, through and by his obedience, we have that same gift, the Holy Spirit living in us, the helper, the one who points us to the Father and the Son. and enables us to guard the good deposit that has been given to us.
may our hearts overflow in praise at this truth! our hope and salvation is not ours to guard, it’s not by our strength or might that we hold to our calling. this gift of the gospel that has been freely given to us, we are now able to guard not in our own strength, but in and by the strength and power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
this truth can be so hard to digest for so many of us. that it’s not by our strength. we’re wired to want to rely on our own strength and to do our best, to be strong and independent on our own. but our good father who knows us so well, who feels our pain and walks with us through our struggles, has given us this gift. a gift of freedom, freedom in surrender.
while it may feel like it’s all going out control, surrender, let go and trust, trust the Holy Spirit who dwells within you. as our frail hearts learn to completely rely on the work of Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit, we find true life and hope and joy no matter what may be surrounding us.
o may this truth ring true in our hearts this day, the all powerful all present God of the universe spirit dwells in us. so let go, trust, surrender, lay your burdens at the foot of the cross, and rest not in your own strength, but in the strength and power of the one who dwells in you!
even when you are weak, when you are overwhelmed by the trials or grief that surround you, rest, surrender and praise the Lord for this truth. that our hope, our peace and our salvation don’t rely on our strength, but rests completely in the finished work of Christ on the cross!
take some time today, right now to be still before the Lord, to surrender, to let go, to trust in the character and the goodness of the one who dwells in you.
be still and rest in that surrender, surrender of your heart and soul to the one who dwells in you, who loves you and cares for you and will never leave you or forsake you.
“the Spirit and the Bride say, “come.” and let the one who hears say, “come.” and let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.” [revelation 22:17]
~ josiah bridges