10 These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.
Reflection
There is a familiar song in the hymnal, The Faith We Sing, that reminds me of this scripture and what happens through our unity with the Holy Spirit. The song, They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love, speaks to our unity with the Spirit, as it repeats a rather comforting verse:
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord,
and we pray that all unity may one day be restored.
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love;
Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
As I read this today’s scripture, I am reminded that the song’s title and tag-line don’t just establish why “they’ll know we are Christians”, but how others will know it, too. They will know of our love because our unity through the Holy Spirit makes events divinely inspired. The Spirit makes us know things, gives us wordless wisdom and makes amazing things happen through and because of our unity with the Spirit!
For me, it isn’t just that our Christian deeds make us recognizable, but that through our unity with the Holy Spirit, all things are made possible! We can do things that are pleasing to God or simply helpful to others. But when we are truly one with the Spirit, now there are “spiritual realities” that give rise to a peace that surpasses all understanding. Most of all, our unity with the Spirit gives us a peace that is known from within. So come Holy Spirit, we want to be “one in the Spirit…one in the Lord.”
By Barbara Carlson
For Pondering & Prayer
When have you sensed unity with the Spirit? Are there events that made you feel that you knew things in ways that surpassed your human knowledge? What is your explanation? How have these moments led you to a peace that surpasses all understanding from within you?
Prayer: Holy One, we want to continue to be “one” with you, always. We thank you for your unity and presence. Spirit, you call us to do things through you and with you. Search our hearts. Know us and help us to know you –so that in all things we may sense a peace that surpasses all understanding. Amen.
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