Sometimes the direction of my blog is a surprise to me. This is one of those times.

When I sat in church on Sunday, taking communion and listening to the sermon, I had a revelation about the Holy Spirit and a verse that planted in my thoughts. Here is the revelation: The same Holy Spirit inside me, that knows me inside and out and helps me in every situation, is also—at the same time—in innumerable other people knowing them and helping them just as intimately and powerfully. I mean I knew that! Right? But my mind can’t grasp the bigness of God. We use words like omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent to describe God. But honestly does that make it any easier to understand? And the Holy Trinity—Father, Son/Jesus, and Holy Spirit—all one? A true head-scratcher.

I may not fully understand all there is to know about God until I meet him face to face, but that doesn’t mean I can’t know enough.

I wandered away from my point, so let me draw you back around to my scripture.

Here, I’m standing at the door, knocking. If someone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he will eat with me.‬‬

Revelation of Yeshua to Yochanan (Rev)‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬ ‭CJB

This is what I saw: The Holy Spirit asking permission to enter our everyday lives. To abide with us and in us, to do life with us.

When I looked up the verse, I found some interesting context.

To the angel of the Messianic Community in Laodicea, write: ‘Here is the message from the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the Ruler of God’s creation: “I know what you are doing: you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth! For you keep saying, ‘I am rich, I have gotten rich, I don’t need a thing!’ You don’t know that you are the one who is wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked! My advice to you is to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich; and white clothing, so that you may be dressed and not have to be ashamed of your nakedness; and eyesalve to rub on your eyes, so that you may see. As for me, I rebuke and discipline everyone I love; so exert yourselves, and turn from your sins! Here, I’m standing at the door, knocking. If someone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he will eat with me. I will let him who wins the victory sit with me on my throne, just as I myself also won the victory and sat down with my Father on his throne. Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities.”‬‬

Revelation of Yeshua to Yochanan (Rev)‬ ‭3‬:‭14‬-‭22‬ ‭CJB

Twice the scriptures say this church was “neither cold nor hot”. I find interesting what they were saying about themselves: “I am rich, I have gotten rich, I don’t need a thing!” The NLT version says “I have everything I want.” But they were mistaken.

This is where my title comes into play. I think about the church today and even my own emphasis on God’s grace. I could imagine myself saying those same words, for I am rich in God’s grace and I can boast of being saved by grace and not by works. But would I say I have everything I want? Everything I need? Have I become arrogant? Or stagnant?

Read this next statement: “I rebuke and discipline everyone I love.” It is after this declaration that he lets us know he is standing at the door. Here I can picture myself sitting contentedly in my Grace recliner, slowly settling into lukewarm-ness. Maybe I’ve fallen asleep, but someone is knocking on my door and it seems like such a bother to get up and see who it is. I’m comfortable here.

If I look around the room, I might notice the dust building up on the furniture and the food rotting in the refrigerator, my clothes may be starting to smell and the dog may have peed on the carpet. My next response would be to panic. “Someone’s at the door! They can’t see me like this!”

But that’s why God tells us he is the one who rebukes and disciplines us. He has what we need. The gold of treasures we store in heaven, the white robes of our righteousness in Christ, and the salve that clears our vision as the Spirit of truth opens our understanding.

The Holy Spirit is real. He is waiting to do life with you and me. Where does he live? Let’s find out.

If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.‬‬

John‬ ‭14‬:‭15‬-‭18‬ ‭NKJV

This scripture was talking about the change between the time Jesus was physically present and when he would be spiritually present. The Holy Spirit is one and the same as Jesus’ Spirit, God’s Spirit, and the Spirit of truth. That’s how I understand it. The same and separate.

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?‬‬

1 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭ESV

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;‬‬

1 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭19‬ ‭NIV

The scriptures tell us we are the body of Christ, corporately, and individually, that our bodies house the Holy Spirit.

But in this scenario of the Holy Spirit knocking on the door, he doesn’t want to come in and chill. He doesn’t want to become a couch potato on the couch of your soul. He wants to make dinner with you. He wants to make sure you are nourished and healthy. He may comment that it’s time to get out the vacuum, wash the dishes, or go shopping for some food. He might remind you to pay the electric bill, call a friend, or take a walk. But the most important thing he will do is cuddle up on the couch next to you and remind you of what Jesus said and then help you act on the truth.

Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me.‬‬

John‬ ‭15‬:‭4‬ ‭CSB

I should have chosen the translation that says—Abide in me—it fits with the picture. But I think you get it.

As far as I’m concerned, I’m afraid I’ve been ignoring my company a little too much. Wallowing in my anxiety and fear. Quality time spent with the Holy Spirit is just what I need.

You?

Grace & Peace,

Sandy

Image created in Canva.