PERSONAL FRAGRANCE
Acts 1:6-8; Acts 2:1-4
Someone comes in when the door swings wide to Jesus. We call that someone the “Holy Spirit.” He kindles a soft but intense fire inside. You find yourself instinctively doing things for others, and telling them of Jesus. And as you do there’s a something—a gentle, winsome, burning something—that wings its way into people’s hearts like morning sunlight into a room. The word used for it is “power.” But the thing is more than the word ever tells.
I CAN DO IT
Matthew 28:16-20
When Jesus asks us to do a thing he always gives us power to do it. We often feel that we can’t. The call seems clear enough. The thing ought to be done. Yet there’s such a strong feeling of inability. But—let’s remember, whom God calls, he qualifies. When he sends, he gives power to go. As we obey, the power comes, stealing gently, irresistibly in and out. The commission includes all you need.
THERE’S A FIRE
Luke 5:1-11
We catch the spirit of him who saves us. That’s a serving spirit. Yet we’re not thinking of it as service, nor counting up how much we’ve done. We’re thinking of him who did so much for us. Love for Jesus becomes a fire in our bones, and we are thinking about how to get Jim and Dick and Mary and the rest of them to know him. We’ll do lots of things for others, to have them get to know him.
WITH A GLAD RESPONSE
Mark 6:7-13; Mark 6:30
Jesus draws and drives. He draws us irresistibly to himself. His peace sings its soft music within. His love kindles fires on the hearthstone of the heart. So he drives us out; not from him, for him, out to others, nearest and farthest. For love serves. It gives freely. It goes gladly. It sacrifices without thinking of the word. It must serve; that is its life. It can serve; for only love-service is real service.
TO-FOR-WITH
John 10:10-18
The oriental shepherd gives himself to his sheep. He shares their life. He eats with them, sleeps with them, braves the storm with them, plans for them, guides them continually, and fights their enemies as his own. He loves them. If need be, he gives his life to save theirs. This is what Jesus does. He gave himself for us on Calvary. And he gives himself to us in the daily need of our lives.
