The Power of the Ascended Christ

“Thank you, God, for this good life and forgive us if we do not love it enough.” – Garrison Keillor
(BrainyQuote)

The word of the day, from Dictionary.com, is fard. It’s a verb, meaning “to apply cosmetics to (the face).” “Nay, but,” said Macbriar, “ye handle this matter too tenderly; nor will my conscience permit me to fard or daub over the causes of divine wrath.” (Sir Walter Scott, Old Mortality, 1816)

Today is Sun Screen Day. I, for one, know how important sun screen is. I really love the beach, especially the ocean beaches, but must cover myself in sun screen to enjoy them. Today, however, at least in our area, we have thunderstorms, and I won’t be spending much time outside.

Alas, the streak is over. Jackie Bradley, Jr. went 0-4 last night. I blame whoever decided to move him to the leadoff spot in the batting order. Have people not learned? If it ain’t broke, you don’t fix it! Oh, well. The Sox also lost the game to the Rockies, which means they lost the series as well. However, Baltimore also lost, so the Sox remain two games up in first place. And Xander Bogaerts got a hit, so if I’m not mistaken, he sits on a 19 game hitting streak. Tonight, they play the Boo Jays in Toronto. Maybe Dustin Pedroia will punch the Punk. I think that should be a thing, now. Every team has to punch Bautista in the face. New rule. The Rangers had the day off, yesterday, and begin a series with the Pirates tonight.

It’s Friday! I think we are planning to go to Scarborough Faire tomorrow, as we have a wedding to attend on Sunday, and it’s supposed to rain all day on Monday.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

(From Praying With the Psalms)

In you, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame!
In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me, and save me!
Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.
Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.
For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth.
Upon you I have leaned from before my birth; you are he who took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is continually of you.
I have been as a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge.
My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day.
Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent.
For my enemies speak concerning me; those who watch for my life consult together
and say, “God has forsaken him; pursue and seize him, for there is none to deliver him.”
O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me!
May my accusers be put to shame and consumed; with scorn and disgrace may they be covered who seek my hurt.
But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more.
My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge.
With the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.
Psalm 71:1-16

As we approach “old age,” there are many unique needs. We fear that, as our strength fails us and our usefulness diminishes, that life will lose meaning. “But God does not love us for what we can do for him, or for our usefulness to society, but for what we are.”

“Almighty God, help me to find the meaning of my life, not in the size of my paycheck nor in the list of things that I can accomplish, but in the eternal purposes you have set for me in Jesus Christ, in whose name I pray. Amen.”

I believe a lot of us could stand to pray that prayer!

(From My Utmost For His Highest)

The Life That Lives

But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.
Luke 24:49

The disciples had to wait until Pentecost because Jesus had yet to be glorified. As soon as he was glorified, he sent the Holy Spirit. There is a parenthetical statement in John 7:39; Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. This is not true for us, because the Holy Spirit has been sent.

The Holy Spirit was definitely at work before Pentecost, but he, himself, was not dwelling with us, yet. “Immediately Our Lord was glorified in Ascension, the Holy Spirit came into this world, and He has been here ever since.” The receiving of the Holy Spirit should be the constant mindset of the believer. From this, we receive “quickening life from the ascended Lord.”

At this point, Chambers makes a great statement, that I believe is commonly overlooked in our age. “It is not the baptism of the Holy Ghost which changes men, but the power of the ascended Christ coming into men’s lives by the Holy Ghost that changes them.” It is not an experience apart from that of Jesus Christ, “it is the evidence of the ascended Christ.” You see, the Holy Spirit never tries to bring attention to himself. He always points toward Jesus Christ. He is also here, now! The kingdom of God is not something that we dream about in eternity. It is here, now, available for us to walk in today!

Father, make me constantly aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life, especially as he points me toward Jesus Christ and the power that this brings to my life. Help me to walk in your kingdom today, not dream about living in it after this life.

Come, Lord Jesus!

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Grace and peace, friends.