| Photo by Stephen Mabbs on Unsplash
Why do we need the Holy Spirit to fill us continually, so that we can live for Jesus in the culture in which we live? We look around the world and see the heavy price many people are willing to pay to follow Jesus. What are we willing to pay to live and serve Jesus in our culture?
We see that the Early Christians in the Book of Acts understood the cost of following Jesus.
Acts 5: 40-42; “The others accepted his advice. They called in the apostles and had them flogged (whipped). Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go. The apostles left the high council REJOICING THAT GOD HAD COUNTED THEM WORTHY TO SUFFER DISGRACE FOR THE NAME OF JESUS. And every day in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.”
It sounds so different than what American Christianity has become today that we should have an easy life, a life of material comfort and blessings. That we should be exempt from suffering because we are followers of Jesus.
The Apostles have been flogged, and they are rejoicing because God counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus! Think about that today! What are we willing to suffer for being a follower of Jesus?
The Apostles left and continued to minister and reach other people with the Gospel. People were coming to Jesus amid persecution.
Why do we need the Holy Spirit? Because we need His Presence, His Power, and His Peace to be able to live for Jesus in the culture that we live in today!
Lord, fill me with Your Presence today!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Pastor Ronald Squibb has been the International Christian Center (ICC) Lead Senior Pastor at Staten Island, New York, since 2011. He draws on many experiences from his over 40 years as a pastor and from significant emotional experiences.
His new book, Following the Journey with Jesus, which he co-authored with Daniel McNaughton, was recently published and is receiving rave reviews. The daily devotion appears in this publication.
