June 3 | Acts 11:19-26
- Katie Borden
- Jun 3
- 2 min read
DAILY READING
REFLECTION
The Spirit's Holy Work
By Katie Borden
When I think about the work of the Holy Spirit, I confess that I often imagine acts like the wondrous miracles that we read about in Scripture: blind people receive sight, prison chains fall off, and dead people are raised to life. So when I read a passage like today’s text, I can wonder where the work of the Spirit is. I can also wonder where the work of the Spirit is in my own life.
And then I remember that, as Acts 11 reminds us, the Holy Spirit is working through believers to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. When the Holy Spirit opens someone’s eyes to the gospel of Jesus, he is bringing sight to those who have been spiritually blind to the love and lordship of our God. When the Holy Spirit moves in someone’s life, he is bringing them freedom from the prison of sin that binds them. And when the Holy Spirit creates faith in someone, he is bringing life from death. What a wonder it must have been to witness the faith of Jesus birthed in the Greeks in Antioch!
Not only does the Holy Spirit bring people to faith, he also encourages and strengthens believers in the faith–and he often uses other believers to do this! I have my own testimony of how the Holy Spirit has encouraged me through the words and actions of other believers–just this week, members of my small group came alongside me to strengthen and encourage me in some very real, tangible ways when I really needed that “wind in my sails”. They showed up to be “Barnabases” and encourage me in faith. I wonder what stories you have that testify to the strengthening and encouragement of the Spirit? Let’s share and encourage one another in the faith!
PRAYER
Holy Spirit, we thank you for the faith you give us to believe the good news of Jesus. We also thank you for the gift of our community of brothers and sisters, and how you work through them to encourage and strengthen us in the faith. Continue to shape each of our hearts in Christ-shaped love, so that we would bear faithful witness to the power of your life-giving love. Amen.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
KATIE BORDEN
I’m a lifelong member of UALC and have had the privilege of serving our community in both volunteer and staff roles over the years. I love learning, OSU football, good conversations, chocolate croissants, laughter, and sharing about the good news of Jesus in whatever capacity I can.
Always appreciate your insight, Katie. Bless you!
Thank you for this devotion today, Katie. Your statement, "And when the Holy Spirit creates faith in someone, he is bringing life from death," is touching me today.