09-26-24-DAILY READING-ENG.

EXPERIENCING THE SPIRIT

                                          WHAT COMES FIRST

Megan was a brilliant student in college, earning honors in her biology degree as well as being an athlete. When she first came to our church, she had no religious background. She was from a good family, but not a Christian one. As she was being drawn to the Lord, everything about Christianity was new to her. One night she came over to our home to talk with my wife and me (Mel). She arrived with two pages of questions she wanted answered. As I looked over the long list, I was impressed by her sincere desire to know truth. But I sensed I needed to challenge her to enter into a relationship with the Lord and then allow Him to answer her questions. “Megan,” I said, “you're trying to run before you can walk. You want to know the deep things of God before you've responded to the simple things. In fact, you'll never understand the relationship with God until you first enter the relationship. You're trying to be a mature Christian before you've been born.” As I talked with her, I could see the Spirit of God stirring in her heart.

 I shared with her the simple message of the gospel and then asked, “Do you sense in your spirit that what I've said is true?” She said, “With all my heart.” “Then respond to what you do know,” I urged her, “and give your life to Jesus Christ. Once you enter a relationship with Him, He'll give you the gift of the Holy Spirit to help you know the deep things of God.” It was like a light turned on. Megan immediately smiled and said she wanted to enter the relationship. So my wife and I prayed with her and witnessed the moment she was born again into the family of God. The next week at church, Megan rushed up to me and said, “I used to read the Bible, and it made no sense. But now it's alive. I'm understanding it. You were right! The relationship with Christ was what I needed, and I sense His Spirit within me.” What Megan discovered is foundational for all of us: the relationship must come first. Don't try to understand the deep things of God without first being born again of the Spirit of God. Don't try to do great things for God without first being empowered by the Spirit of God. Your entire Christian life is a by-product of this relationship. Jesus promised us a Helper—the gift of the Holy Spirit who would dwell in us. If the Spirit isn't in you, and if you're not walking in step with Him, you cannot experience God in His fullness.