Is the wind of the Spirit blowing in your life?

Matthew 25:34-46

A friend that I went to school with told me one day, after reading from “The back Porch,” that he did not like reading from the apostle Paul’s words, and that made me wonder why?  In that he did not share in his email why, I wonder if it could be that Paul asked questions and made statements that cut to the chase, questions like 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” 

I can only say that it is painful to examine myself, I would rather examine you, for there is much less discomfort in doing so.  But maybe we need to look at being in the faith; what does that require, or better yet, what does Jesus tell us is needed?  Do you remember the Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews who came to Jesus by night, and told Jesus how great He was, and that he knew that Jesus had come from God to do signs and miracles.  Now you may be as blown away as Nick was with Jesus’ reply; “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again’ he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  Do you recall that Nick wanted to know how he could get back into his mother, and Jesus explained, Nick it is not a physical birth, but a Spiritual birth.  Jesus compares spiritual birth to the wind.  “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:7-8)

Returning to the exam; is the wind of the Spirit blowing in your life, have you by faith put your trust in the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross to cover sin?  If so, are you feeding those who are hungry, giving drink to those who are thirsty, being kind to strangers, meeting the needs of the sick, and visiting those in prison?  For Jesus tells us the following; “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”  

As you examine yourself, ask this question: am I letting the winds of the Spirit of God move in my life, am I being the hands and feet of Jesus?  This examination is so important, for you may be like so many, you believe in a historical Jesus, you’re a member in good standing at your church, you even help out, in fact, you may be the pastor or a deacon, but your life is not centered in Jesus, but in meeting the desires of your flesh.  Could the answer be you have never bowed your knee to the authority of Christ, and by His grace, through the faith He will give you to believe, accepted the free gift of redemption?  Remember any way other than the cross is a road that leads to a place not prepared for you, but for the devil and his angels.

You do not want to hear these words for eternity; ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice