Led in the Spirit (Lent Devotion 2021)
JESUS, FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, LEFT THE JORDAN AND WAS LED BY THE SPIRIT INTO THE WILDERNESS, WHERE FOR FORTY DAYS HE WAS TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL. HE ATE NOTHING DURING THOSE DAYS, AND AT THE END OF THEM HE WAS HUNGRY." (LUKE 4:1-2)
Right now we are in a time of uncertainty. With this pandemic going on, we are secluded in our communities and in our homes. We feel isolated. We feel alone. We wonder when this all will end!
Our minds are racing with ideas of how to entertain ourselves, how to communicate better with our spouse, or maybe we are trying to help our children with their homework. We are trying so much that we are getting exhausted and irritated. Even though we are together, we feel all alone!
We tend to look at ourselves as the one who can make ourselves feel better or the one that can allow us to handle life better. With this thought process, we have come to frustration because nothing works!
We have forgotten our baptism! Let’s look at the example that Jesus gives us in Luke 4. After Jesus’ baptism, He was full of the Holy Spirit! As Christians, we believe that when we are baptized, we are also filled with the Holy Spirit! Not only are we filled with the Holy Spirit, we are FULL of the Holy Spirit! However, as this pandemic has reminded us, we tend to push the Holy Spirit aside and stray away from having Him lead us through each step of our life. After His Baptism, Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit and was “LED” by the Spirit into the wilderness!
We need to realize that we are not alone, we are full of the Holy Spirit. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us through this time in our lives! We need the Holy Spirit's guidance, not just through this pandemic, but through life, period! While we are forced to be isolated from “normal” life, one of the most precious times to be with GOD is when we are alone. Let us remember that the Holy Spirit is in us, with us, and is waiting to be our guide through this pandemic or whatever wilderness you may be facing. The Holy Spirit knows what we need, how to comfort us, how to bring peace to our hearts, and ultimately, how to defeat the loneliness!
Let us find comfort in knowing that the Holy Spirit - the Spirit of Truth - is leading us!
How do you let the Holy Spirit led? As we pray to Jesus, may we rest in His strength through the Holy Spirit.
Rev. Rick McCafferty (Inupiaq)
Vancouver, Washington