June 21 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

The Holy Spirit is the sum total of the grace God gives to us when we believe in Jesus. All the riches of Christ—forgiveness, renewal, the pledge of the future, yes, the love of the Father himself—are poured into our hearts when we receive the Spirit.

And this grace must flow from one person to another. The Spirit immediately unites us with those who are in Christ and urges us to communicate the gospel to those who are outside of Christ. These are not only commandments given to the new community of believers, they are pressures that come from within. This is how the Spirit's own nature is revealed.

The early Christians were "one in heart and mind." They had been radically renewed and united.

"They shared everything they had." The natural attitude toward earthly possessions was changed by the coming of the Spirit. It was no dictator's rule to the effect that all that's yours is mine. No, it was pressure from within that made them say, "All that's mine is yours."

The Christian community's way of life is not the same at all times and places. It changes. There's nothing wrong with the changes, although some Christian groups appear to be frightened by them. Countless leaders have tried to stop the clock or even set it back. That's not only silly, it's sinful. It's an insult to think that the Holy Spirit can work in us only if we arrange for an agrarian setting on a communal farm.

God himself is in control of the world and the changes in society. God works in today's church with the same power he has always used. All who have the Spirit are one in heart and mind. And all who are possessed by him change their attitudes toward earthly possessions. They learn to put the fellowship first.

REFLECTIONS

How have you experienced "the community of saints" and the fellowship of believers?

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.