October 19
Read: Joel 2:27-29
I will put my spirit within you (Ezekiel 36:27).
My Own Spirit Within You
Our closing prayer yesterday was the heart cry of the human spirit longing to be holy. God never fails to answer that prayer.
How can mortal man become like God? The divine answer is, “I will put my spirit within you.” I can be like God if He gives me a spirit — an attitude — that is like His own. That is promise enough, but that is not all that God promises. Perhaps that is as far as men could see before Pentecost. But in the light of Jesus’ promise we now see that the word spirit should have a capital
- The Berkeley Version translates it, “I will put My Spirit within you.” And Moffatt emphasizes it thus: “I will put my own spirit within you.”
God in me! That is the extravagant promise. And the New Testament verifies it: “I will ask the Father to give you another Helper to be with you for ever, even the Spirit… you know him, because he remains with you and will be within you” (John 14:16-17, Moffatt).
How can a man become like his Creator? We most resemble God when we are most filled with God’s own Holy Spirit. Holiness is to be God-possessed as well as to be Godlike. We do not know how the human spirit can be invaded and transformed by the Holy Spirit. But neither do we know how a live current of electricity can invade and charge a dead wire with power. We do not
understand how it can be, but we can open our hearts to the Spirit’s coming and make glad use of His power.
Spirit of burning, come! O that it now from heaven might fall, And all my sins consume! Come, Holy Ghost, for thee I call.
— Wesley’s Hymns