Charlotte’s reflection on a talk by Tom
God, or Jesus’s nature, is a hard thing to understand just using our rational thinking. Our perception of events in our lives or others is shaped by our pre-existing ideas, our upbringing, culture, status, age…. The only thing we can truly trust is the Spirit, and this is what Tom talked about last Sunday.
Tom gave several examples of events in the Bible where people used their judgement to view a situation, and now when we reflect and it might seem that their perception may have been incorrect.
John 2:19 – Jesus answered and said unto them, destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. The people scoffed, knowing this was impossible as it had taken 46 years to build initially. But looking at these words using the Holy Spirit, we know Jesus was speaking of himself, the temple of God that would be killed on the cross, only to be raised again three days later.
Acts 2:12 – And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? When the Holy Spirit was given out, the onlookers mocked saying they were “full of new wine’’ (Acts 2:13). To the people, not Spirit-filled, they perceived what was there in front of them; a room of people all speaking in different languages. I know though that this was, in fact, a pivotal event in the relationship between God and man.
Everything in our world can be viewed through different lenses. I find through the Holy Spirit, God has given me the ability to see the bigger picture.
Colossians 1:12-13
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.
Tom reminded me that in every situation I can ask myself – am I in the light and using the Spirit that has been gifted to me?