Read: John 14:12, 1 John 2:6
Recently, I got backlight LEDs for my TV. Before I even purchased them, I was already dreaming about saying, “Alexa, it’s movie night,” and having her turn off all the lights, set the perfect ambiance, and turn on the backlight for my TV. The lights would splash the same colors from the screen onto the wall, creating a truly immersive experience. I finally took the plunge and bought it. I spent hours setting it up, but no matter what I did, I couldn’t get it to work. I was so frustrated I had to step away before I risked throwing my TV off the balcony! When I returned to it a few days later, I walked through the setup again and realized that the tiny box that controlled everything needed to be plugged in. SMH
It didn’t matter how advanced the technology was or how perfect the experience could have been—without being plugged in, it was just a fancy string of lights. We’re a lot like that. On our own, we’re limited and unable to accomplish what God calls us to do. But when we’re connected to the source of power—the Holy Spirit—everything changes.
Jesus modeled this for us. Although He was God in the flesh, He relied on the Holy Spirit throughout His ministry, demonstrating what it looks like to live as a true human being empowered by God’s Spirit. The Holy Spirit was active in every part of Jesus’ life: He was conceived by the Spirit (Luke 1:35), the Spirit descended on Him at His baptism (Luke 3:22), He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness (Luke 4:1), He began His ministry “in the power of the Spirit” (Luke 4:14), and He claimed the Spirit’s anointing for His ministry (Luke 4:18–19).
The goal isn’t to strive harder to be like Jesus but to learn how to abide in the Spirit, allowing God’s power to work through us in our everyday lives. This means doing what Jesus did—not because we’re strong enough, but because we’re connected to the One who is.
Questions for Reflection:
- What does it mean for you to do the works of Jesus in your context?
- Where have you been relying on your own strength instead of the Holy Spirit’s power?
- How can you cultivate a deeper connection to the Holy Spirit in your daily life?