The Stuff Inside

“The Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you… Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”

John 14:26‑27 (NIV UK)

I read a story by a pastor named Al Harris that illustrates how the Holy Spirit works. One June evening, a little boy was playing outside his home when he noticed some fireflies. He was fascinated by their light so he ran inside the house and excitedly asked his dad, “Daddy, what makes the fireflies glow?”

His dad, not sure how to answer, said to his son, “I really don’t know son. Why don’t you ask your teacher at school?”

The boy was not discouraged by his dad’s non-answer. He quickly ran back outside to admire the fascinating creatures some more. He tried to catch one. Several times he swatted at them with his hands but missed; but then his hands clapped together on both sides of a firefly in flight and he squished it between his palms.

Making a face as he felt the mashed insect’s remains between his hands, he slowly opened them to see the dead creature. To his surprise, the insect’s remains were still glowing in the palms of his hands.

Excitedly, he ran back into the house, yelling, “Daddy, daddy, I found out what it is that makes the fireflies glow!”

His dad, pleased that his son had figured out the answer to his own question, asked, “What is it, son?”

“Dad, it is the stuff inside! He replied proudly showing him the palms of his hands.

The same thing is true of the followers of Jesus Christ. What is it that gives us the glow? The answer is simple – it is the stuff inside – the Holy Spirit.

In John 14:16-17 Jesus told his disciples, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”

The Spirit testifies about Jesus and points people to Jesus as our source of righteousness and the solution to all our fear and guilt. The Spirit reveals to us our true identity as children of God in union with Jesus Christ, and it is by the Spirit that Jesus and the Father make their dwelling within us.

Indeed, it’s what’s inside that makes us glow.

Prayer

Thank you that the Spirit dwells within us, and that through him we point others to Jesus.

Amen

Study by Joseph Tkach