The work of the Spirit is to impart life

In a classic “Peanuts” comic strip, Charlie Brown goes to Lucy for psychiatric help. He says, “What can you do when you don’t fit in? What can you do when life seems to be passing you by?” 

Lucy leads Charlie away from her booth and says, “Follow me. I want to show you something. 

See the horizon over there? 

See how big this world is? 

See how much room there is for everybody? 

Have you ever seen any other worlds?” 

Charlie replies meekly, “No.” She continues, “As far as you know, this is the only world there is…Right?” Even more meekly, Charlie says, “Right.” Lucy presses on, “There are no other worlds for you to live in…Right?” Charlie admits, “Right.” “You were born to live in this world…Right?” “Right,” says Charlie. Lucy then explodes, “Well, live in it then! Five pence, please.” 

While we may disagree with Lucy’s counselling technique, we recognise she is on to something. We need to make the most of our lives and really live. The renowned New Testament Scholar N T Wright  suggests that this is the work of the HolySpirit. “Those in whom the Spirit comes to live are God's new Temple. They are, individually and corporately, places where heaven and earth meet.”

In Romans 8 we read, “Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed this invisible but clearly present God, the Spirit of Christ, won’t know what we’re talking about. But for you who welcome him, in whom he dwells—even though you still experience all the limitations of sin—you yourself experience life on God’s terms.”

Life-giving God,

we stand in Your presence

to offer You thanksgiving and praise

for all that You have done for us.

Through the life, death and resurrection of Your Son,

Jesus Christ,

we have been set free—

free from the power of sin that leads to death,

free to follow the leading of Your Holy Spirit,

free to love You with all our heart and soul and strength,

free to worship!

May Your Holy Spirit inspire our praise and our prayers.

Open our hearts and minds

to Your presence among us and within us,

and to the Word You have for us today.

To You alone, life-giving God,

belongs all praise and honour and glory and blessing,

now and to the end of time.

Amen.