This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.’” (Acts 2:17, NIV)
Not everyone plays golf. The world is probably better off for this—fewer grumpy people walking around at the end of the day because they couldn’t get that one last putt to drop! But if more people played, we golfers might not be seen as oddly dressed bores who don’t like to talk about much else.
Ultimate qualification for the work of God comes through the Spirit of God.It kind of reminds me of the accusation that some men and women of God are “so heavenly minded they’re no earthly good.” Perceptions run strong, and people living without Christ just aren’t sure what to make of those living with him. So we’re called “holy rollers” or “Jesus freaks,” because often it is easier to label people than to get to know them.
There is a call to spiritual integrity there, though, because the difference in God’s people should rest well below the surface, where he dwells.
If you grew up in Sunday school, you likely heard much about the heart: “Ask Jesus into your heart,” “Jesus is living in your heart,” “I’ve got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus, down in my heart!” It seems like quaint verbiage these days, but the heart provides us an indelible picture of one’s inner being. God meets us there.
Now, this may be where you draw the line. You’re OK with the idea of God. But when we get to talking about Christ living in you, that’s not so comfortable.
What’s significant about the way this matter is discussed in Scripture is that there is no such thing as “a little bit of God.” Either you have Jesus or you don’t. Either you’re indwelt by the Holy Spirit or you’re not. And what can happen is that those who don’t think of themselves as particularly religious figure they’re out. Disqualified. Not one of God’s own.
When Peter stood up to preach in Jerusalem, as we read in Acts 2, he didn’t allow for part-timers and he didn’t allow for out-of-hand dismissals. The Spirit was being poured out on all people, he said. It would take some time before the apostles themselves came to recognize that “all people” included the non-Jews. But it did. They too could believe. They too could have Jesus. And this was true for them, then it’s true for us. Ultimate qualification for the work of God comes through the Spirit of God. So get Jesus. On the inside. For good.
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Jeff Hopper
June 23, 2017
Copyright 2017 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
Other devotions in this series:
– Are You Qualified? 1: The Nature of Qualifiers
– Are You Qualified? 2: How Sin Disqualifies Us
– Are You Qualified? 3: A Disqualifying Attitude
– Are You Qualified? 4: Qualified by Salvation
– Are You Qualified? 5: Qualified by God’s Calling
– Are You Qualified? 6: Qualified by God’s Equipping
– Are You Qualified? 7: Qualified by God’s Presence