Holy Smoke
John 14:15-17 (NIV)
15 If you love me, you will do what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you.
Good morning!
We had a little excitement at the parsonage last night. Our son David decided to have a little late-night snack. He decided to fry a few hamburgers in the kitchen. He’s a 21-year old growing boy, being over six feet tall, and of course, a growing boy has to eat. We were back in the bedroom reading when I noticed the wafting smell of hamburgers frying on the stove. A few seconds later, our smoke detectors began to scream all over the house. Have you ever played with your smoke detector when changing the batteries? They flash and squeal and make some of the worst noise I have ever heard.
I ran down the hallway toward the kitchen, where David stood looking mighty guilty, with spatula in hand. He was shaking his head, saying, “I don’t get it – there is no fire!” But, the kitchen was smoky. We turned on the exhaust fan, opened a couple of windows, and he ran to get the step stool to check the incessant noise makers. Fortunately, the squealing stopped within a few seconds. I glanced at the old frying pan and realized it probably was time to replace it. This pan had seen better days, and I was sure part of the problem may have been the pan itself.
Smoke detectors are wonderful tools. They warn us when there may be an imminent dangerous situation. Smoke detectors save lives. The warning signal grabs our attention, while we seek to identify the situation and remedy it. Make sure to change your smoke detector batteries every spring and fall. It is especially helpful late at night, when your son decides to cook.
Jesus promised his disciples that the Father would send a Counselor, the Spirit of truth, to keep them company on their journey. He knew the world would not accept something it could not see, but for those who believe, the Holy Spirit would be with them, living in their hearts. The Holy Spirit is a true comforter, knowing we are never without the Father’s love. He wraps our hearts in the warmth of his love and keeps us strong in times of testing. He is the Christian’s smoke alarm, sending out a warning signal whenever we walk too close to the flame, or do not see the imminent danger that lies ahead. The Holy Spirit is the very presence of God living in our lives. Even though we cannot see Him with our eyes, we experience His holy presence every moment of the day.
Fortunately, we do not have to worry about changing His batteries. We can, however, receive a power-packed charge from the Holy Spirit as we spend time with our Lord in worship, prayer and reflection. He gives us exactly what we need, at just the right moment, to do what He has called us to do as we go into the world to share the love of Christ with all people.
Is the Holy Spirit protecting you from the smoke in your life? Do you need a power-packed charge today? Ask God to give you the power of the Holy Spirit to help you live the life. Our God is faithful, and He will do what He promises. Holy Smoke! We have everything we need to survive and thrive, through the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
Pray for: The Holy Spirit to be very real to you today. He will protect, defend, comfort, and convict you. He’s speaking to you this morning. Can you hear Him?
© Copyright 2006, Deb Spaulding
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