Holy Spirit Awareness

Meditations for Ragamuffins

November 2, 2023

Holy Spirit Awareness 

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.

Acts 4:32

The verse quoted above is at the close of Acts 4 and is a summary of the lifestyle of the first Christian church in Jerusalem. Their life together is an example of the goal that Dietrich Bonhoeffer set for his disciples. Bonhoeffer noted that Satan’s goal is to disrupt the harmony and unity of the church. Satan’s desire for Christians is what Saint Augustine described as incurvatus in se, which basically translates as curved in on ourselves. When we live in ego-centric or self-centered ways, we are destructive in our Christian communities. When we live for ourselves, our lives are curved inward as opposed to the life God intended for us, which is life lived with an outward focus. This outward focus, a life of openness and willing self-sacrifice for the good of others, is a blessing to our communities and a pleasing aroma to God.

Augustine noted that incurvatus in se is the very essence of original sin. As such, we need daily to look to the Holy Spirit for discernment of the ways we are still curved in on ourselves. We also look to the Holy Spirit for the power to say yes when the Spirit motivates us to action, and to say no to our bent toward self-motivation.

My Takeaway: Our culture celebrates self-awareness, self-motivation and taking the initiative. God celebrates our Holy Spirit awareness, our Holy Spirit motivation, and our willingness to respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Be patient and allow God to develop your discerning heart, and He will teach you how to do what is right, how to love mercy, and how to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2023 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.