John 16-17

John 16: 7: "But I tell you the truth: it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you."

I guess this was a good reminder of something that I take for granted DAILY. I talk to God, without any hesitation, no worry about coming before a HOLY God in my unclean state. But before Jesus' death, no one dared to come before the presence of God before they atoned for their sins! The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, that we access daily when we want to pray for big things (jobs/relationships/parents/family) and little things (tests/money/etc) is ONLY available because Jesus died! I know it's the crux of the gospel, but I wonder how often I forget that fact; DAILY! Let's be reminded today of what Jesus has done. Unless he went away, the Holy Spirit couldn't have come to us to live in us. Can you imagine your life without the Holy Spirit? What would that look like? Would we be able to connect with fellow brothers and sisters in the same way that we can now? Would our times of praise be filled with emotions and love as they are now? I think it's something we all need daily reminders of.

John 17:15-17"My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth."

ah... the age-old saying... to be "in and not of the world". What does that mean to us exactly?
does it mean that we do all the things that the world does, but come home and repent and say that we are above those people who sin? or does it mean that we refrain from all things of this world and remain in our 'salt shaker'? to be honest, i don't know where I am... if I am in the salt shaker or if i am out of it, 'seasoning' the world. i think you need a healthy balance between the two. b/c we are fallen and weak, without the encouragement of fellow brothers/sisters, we can fall into the world and become "OF" the world. so I think it's important to spend some time IN the salt shaker... fellowshipping, but we need to get out to the world and 'season' it. we need to go into work and our classrooms and remember to be salt and light. if everyone else is doing something, and if you go against it or you refrain from it, would they frown upon you? would it require you to reveal your identity as a Christian? at those challenging times, are you like Peter and deny Him 3 times? well, the good thing is... even if you do, God forgave Peter and took him back and used him mightily! our God is such a forgiving God! =) Let's remember to be IN the world and not OF it in everything that we do daily. =)

take care gals~! =)

Eunice