Thought for the Day

When we are far from home and hear good news, it is like a drink of cold water when one is crossing the desert. Every living thing needs water for health and survival. Even slight dehydration causes impaired function and drowsiness. What water is to our bodies, God is to our spirit and soul. Without God, our spirits are dead and our souls parched. The good news of Jesus Christ from that "distant land of heaven," truly refreshes the soul parched by separation from God.

The Bible contains many allegories in which water symbolizes spiritual truths. Jesus Himself described the Holy Spirit as the living water which He gives to men. John 4:7-15 recounts Jesus giving this "living water" to a Samaritan woman whom he met at the well: "...whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." When the Holy Spirit dwells in us, we have access to the Source of life; to all that we will ever need. His presence is a well that never runs dry. Many of our Christian songs have expressions about coming to Jesus when we are spiritually thirsty and receiving that wonderful drink of "living water" that quenches our thirst.

We are commanded to be baptized in water once we have received Christ. However, John spoke of another baptism that Jesus Himself would perform, the baptism in the Holy Spirit. In this baptism, rivers of living water flow out of us, as Jesus declared (John 7:37-39). Many Christians know the reality of the Holy Spirit, but have never received the baptism in the Holy Spirit which gives us the power needed to overcome in Christ. This gift of God is available to whoever asks for it. "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (Luke 11:13, also Acts 1:8).

There were Christians in Paul's day who did not know that the Holy Spirit was available to them. "Paul said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost...And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied" (Acts 19:2,6).

Many people have been "born again" and have the Holy Spirit working in their lives, but they have never received the "Baptism in the Holy Ghost" which equips them for service and gives them the power needed to overcome in Christ. This gift of God is available to us, if we ask for it.

If, as a Christian, you know that the Holy Spirit dwells within you but you have not known God's power to overcome sin, to witness, or to know God in His fullness, you can ask Him to baptize you in the Holy Spirit.