A Gift For You

By: Jenifer Metzger

Picture this. You are meeting with a dear friend for lunch and want to bless her with a thoughtful gift. You head to store you know she enjoys. You browse the aisles looking at everything very carefully. Then, you spot it. The thing you know will bring a smile to her face and joy to her heart. It is the perfect gift for her.

You make your purchase and then head home. You carefully wrap the gift and lovingly place a big, beautiful bow on top. As you step back, you smile because you know the smile it will bring to your friend. Excitement bubbles as you enter the café and you spot your friend seated at a table.

You place the wrapped gift in her hand. She says, "Thank you!" and sets it down. But she never opens it. All through lunch the gift sits there, still wrapped. When you rise to leave, your friend never even picks up the gift.

We are that friend.

God gives us a beautiful and important gift. Yet too often we set it down and walk away without opening the gift. What is the gift? Holy Spirit.

If you love Me, you will keep My commands.

And I will ask the Father, and He will give

you another Counselor to be with you forever.

He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable

to receive Him because it doesn’t see Him or

know Him. But you do know Him, because He

remains with you and will be in you.

John 14:15-17 CSB

God sent us Holy Spirit. A vital part of The Trinity, a part of God Himself. We often see the power of God and work of Jesus, but we leave out so much God has for us when we leave out a part of The Trinity.

God sent Holy Spirit as our Comforter and Counselor. He teaches us and guides us to truth. He helps when we are weak and intercedes on our behalf. He enables good fruit in our lives.

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in My name,
will teach you all things and remind
you of everything I have told you.
John 14:26 CSB

We miss so much in our Christian life when we leave the gift of Holy Spirit behind, unwrapped and unused!

So how do we open the gift of Holy Spirit? Pray and ask God to give you Holy Spirit. Ask Him to come in and fill you. Ask Him to be with you and guide you. Then be ready for the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, to come!

Discussion:
1. The Trinity -three Persons in one- can be hard to understand. Do you struggle with this?
2. How often do you pray asking Holy Spirit to come?