“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.” – 2 Corinthians 13:14 NKJV
‘Show me your friends, and I’ll tell you who you are’ is a well-known saying. Though we’re not identical to our friends, there’s truth in this quote.
The Bible, our manual for life, tells us this same thing in diverse ways: “evil communication corrupts good manners” (1 Corinthians 15:33); “he that walks with the wise shall be wise” (Proverbs 13:20), and “iron sharpens iron…” (Proverbs 27:17).
We are deeply influenced by the relationships we have in our lives, subtly picking up the mannerisms and ideas from those we spend time with. The Sanhedrins noted that the boldness mere men like Peter and John demonstrated could be traced to the fact that they had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13).
This is why it is important that you befriend the Holy Spirit and commune with Him always, as He is the perfect companion, who will make you more like Christ.
The word, ‘communion’, in our anchor scripture is translated from the Greek word, ‘koinonia’, which also means partnership or fellowship. It is not in doubt that the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and the love of God brought us salvation. However, it is by the communion with the Holy Spirit that we go on to live our lives in a manner that pleases God.
No wonder the scriptures admonish thus: “Walk in the Spirit and we shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16).
You must recognise the nature and efficacy of the Holy Spirit. It was together with Him that Jesus fulfilled His ministry on earth.
By the Holy Spirit, Jesus was conceived (Luke 1:35), empowered (Matthew 3:16), and led (Matthew 4:1). By the Spirit, He performed miracles (Acts 10:38), resurrected (Romans 8:11), and is seated at God’s right hand (Ephesians 1:19-20). Having the Holy Spirit in your corner changes everything!
As with earthly relationships that require intentional building and maintenance, we must intentionally build and maintain fellowship with the Holy Spirit. We do so through prayer and Bible study, keeping in mind that the Bible was written by men inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:21).
Another way to maintain fellowship with the Holy Spirit is by yielding to His leading. We must actively seek the leading of the Holy Spirit concerning the affairs of our lives and importantly, obey Him as He leads us.
Just as with Peter and John, It can be evident about us that we have been with Jesus, by His Spirit.
Dear believer, make it a daily practice to maintain fellowship with the Holy Spirit and partner with Him for the fulfilment of God’s will for your life.
Bible Reading Plan: Luke 17