😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace be with you. This past Sunday, Pentecost Sunday, concluded the Easter season with my favorite gift from the Lord…The Holy Spirit. This year our Gospel reading was John 20:19-23. Although the doors were lock, Jesus entered the presence of the disciples, showing them His hands and side, and the disciples rejoiced. John 20:21-23 “Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so I send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Who’s sins you forgive are forgiven them, and who sins you retain are retained.”
The Holy Spirit is a very special Presence in my life. God the Father, He’s the master mind with the plan. Jesus, He’s our greatest example. The Holy Spirit, He’s really like my buddy. He’s constantly there talking with me and guiding and encouraging me. He’s the One that cheers me along and helps me to put The Father’s plan into action, by following Jesus’ example. When Jesus gave us this precious gift of His Holy Spirit, He also gave us a huge responsibility. “Who’s sins you forgive are forgiven them, and who’s sins you retain are retained.” That’s a crazy amount of life changing authority which affects your life as well as the other person’s. It can be freeing or a chain that binds you and others to past failings. Each person and situation is different and you have a choice to make. How will you utilize and share your gift? Before you answer that and each time you are faced with this opportunity, first talk with the Holy Spirit. Share your concerns, thoughts, frustrations, and hurts, then listen. Take in His thoughts, concerns, and how He desires to bless you in that moment. When we withhold forgiveness, we actually hurt ourselves more. Christ didn’t call us to like our neighbor. We are called to love our neighbor. Those two are very different and I pray that you and I, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit will continue to have open, honest conversations with the Him so that we are able to make wise choices. Bless others and be blessed.
#CastingCrowns – Start Right Here
Third Day Devotions 