Thursday, June 4, 2009
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
THE HOLY SPIRIT'S TOOLS
In the course of instructing our young people in catechism class, great care is taken to help them understand the importance of regular use of God's Word and the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper throughout their lives. We seek to impress on their young minds that the day of their confirmation isn't the end of their Bible learning and Christian training but only the beginning. Why do we lay importance on this? Why are we happy to hear them make this promise (among others) on their Confirmation Day: "I intend, by the grace of God, to hear the Word of God and receive the Lord's Supper faithfully."
Answer: The Word of God and the Sacraments are the tools through which the Holy Spirit brings us to faith and KEEPS us in faith. He uses the Scriptures to perform the awesome miracle of conversion and to strengthen us so we don't lose our faith or give in to temptation in the face of the fierce enemies that are trying to destroy our faith (the devil, the sinful world, and our own flesh).
An illustration I like to use to impress these truths on the young people of our church is that of an aqueduct. On one end of the aqueduct stands Jesus. On the other end stands me. Through this aqueduct Jesus loves to channel His precious blessings to me (the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation). He uses the water of life He funnels to me through the Means of Grace to nourish and refresh my soul and to strengthen me to live for Him and serve Him with works of love, till the day He takes me home. If I were to walk away from this aqueduct or fail to utilize it, I'd miss out on the wonderful blessings which the Lord of love wants to pour out on me.
How important it is for young Christians, and Christians of all ages and stages of life, to make faithful use of these "tools" of the Holy Spirit. May the heavenly Father enable us and our children so to do, for the eternal benefit of our souls.
Holy Spirit, strong and mighty. Thou who makest all things new,
Make Thy work within us perfect And the evil Foe subdue.
Grant us weapons for the strife And with victory crown our life.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 226:7)
