I was sitting at the table last night having dinner when my attention was caught by the small cardboard box sitting at the end of the table. This box had held a very special Christmas gift candle from my daughter.
As I was enjoying my dinner, I couldn’t help pondering how cardboard is basically just two normal sheets of paper with ribbing in-between. If you were to separate the layers, the top and bottom layers of cardboard are basically just normal sheets of paper … with no more strength than any other normal piece of paper. But when ribbing is inserted in-between, there is instantly strength.
It occurred to me this is what it’s like when we have the presence & person of the Holy Spirit in our life. On our own, we have no more spiritual strength than any other person.
But … when the Holy Spirit comes to fill us and indwell us, just like the ribbing in-between the cardboard, there is instantly strength!
There is strength to resist temptation!
There is strength to do what is right, in the face of pressure to do what is wrong.
There is strength to tell the truth and be honest!
There is strength to have peace … when everything in life pressures us towards anxiety.
There is strength to resist fear.
There is strength to be courageous.
There is strength to forgive.
There is strength to let offenses go.
There is strength to resist bitterness.
There is strength to love those who hurt us.
There is strength to persevere when we are weak, weary, and exhausted.
There is strength to remain joyful in the face of disappointments.
There is strength to be patient with people who get on our very last nerve!
There is strength to respond with kindness.
There is strength to maintain a clear head, balance, and perspective … when there is so much distraction swirling around us!
As I pondered these things, I noticed the tape along the sides of the box. The tape was used to seal the box.
Immediately the verse popped into my head: “When you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, having believed, you were marked in him [Jesus Christ] with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.” – Ephesians 1:13
If we believe that Jesus Christ died to pay the penalty for all the bad things we have ever done … if we believe and accept Jesus’s payment for us, then we are immediately sealed with the Holy Spirit.
In that instant, everything bad which we have ever done is taken away! Our old sinful nature is forever removed. And we are filled and indwelt with the Holy Spirit!
Just like the two pieces of paper with the cardboard ribbing inserted in-between … at the moment we believe in Jesus and follow Him, we have the strength of the Holy Spirit inserted into our life! We are made new! We are given a new spiritual strength we never had before! And we are sealed!
As I was further pondering these things, I noticed a sweet fragrance wafting from the box. The box had held a Christmas-gift candle from my daughter. Immediately this verse popped into my head:
“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” – Ephesians 5:1-2
Just like the candle’s fragrance permeated the cardboard box, so also the “fragrance of Christ” permeates the life of those who choose to follow Jesus. It is a “fragrance” of love! Love so great that Jesus gave his very life to rescue and redeem us!
Here you can see the very special candle which was a Christmas gift from my daughter. On the front of the candle is the word: “Blessed.”
On the rim of the candle, you can see the verse reference: Jeremiah 17:7 – “Blessed is the person who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.”
We all want to have a “Blessed” life. In fact, the title of this blog is: Daily Blessing. So how do we achieve a “Blessed” life??
The answer: by following Jesus Christ. This is how to achieve a blessed life.
Jeremiah 17:8 further goes on to describe the “Blessed” life of the person who chooses to follow Jesus: “This person will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” – Jeremiah 17:8
The “Blessed” candle had been gifted in the box, which I sat pondering at the end of the table during dinner last night. I couldn’t help thinking of Jesus’s words: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12
… and …
Jesus’s words to those who choose to follow him: “You are the light of the world. … Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14, 16
The “Blessed” candle was a gift. I didn’t do anything to earn it. It was given to me out of love!
In the same way, the “Light” of Jesus Christ is a gift. There isn’t anything we can do to earn it. It is offered to us out of love!
I gratefully received the “Blessed” candle! I am so blessed with this precious gift from someone who loves me very much! Its fragrance is delightful! The title on the tag is: Grace & Light.
So also, in the same way, we have the choice to gratefully receive the gift of the “Light” of Jesus Christ! The “Light” of Jesus Christ is a precious gift, from God who loves you and me very much!
We now have the delightful “fragrance” of Jesus which fills our life and permeates the atmosphere wherever we go! And we now have Grace & Light to share with the dark world around us.
Thank you Jesus for the precious gift of your “Light” which you offer to each of us with love!
Thank you Jesus for the delightful “fragrance” of your love which fills our life!
Thank you Jesus for putting into our life, just like ribbing in-between cardboard, the presence & power of the Holy Spirit to give us spiritual strength to live this life for you!
Thank you Jesus for “sealing” us with the Holy Spirit!
