Luke Blog 2

“Religion is what you're left with when the Spirit leaves the building.” ~Bono

I think that it is very possible that of the four gospels, Luke is my favorite. My last blog hinted at why, but here is the answer spelled out so that anybody reading will not be confused. I love God. I love watching Him work. The Holy Spirit is at work. I love seeing the evidence of the Holy Spirit at work. Luke is a great source to see the Holy Spirit at work. When the Holy Spirit fills a place, things happen.
While Jesus walked on earth, He was constantly in tune with His Father. Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1) and was “filled with the power of the Spirit” (Like 4:14). Luke 11:13 says “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Therefore, you and I can be filled with the Holy Spirit.
This semester I have watched the film Finger of God four times. I purchased the film near the end of the summer before coming to Colorado Christian University. I prayed that God would show me anyone who would be interested in watching the film. God has been answering that prayer. I have met many people who are extremely interested in seeing what God is doing today. I am surprised that I have not told you about Finger of God until now. Remember my Matthew 2 blog? I had watched the film twice prior to writing that blog.
For those of you who have never heard of Finger of God, please visit http://fingerofgodfilm.com/ and click on "View Trailer."
What does this have to do with the Luke 2 blog? If Jesus walked in the power of the Holy Spirit and Christians are supposed to follow what He does, then why aren’t more Christians walking in the power of the Holy Spirit? Things that I noticed in Luke were that Jesus prayed and the Holy Spirit was with Him. Jesus healed dozens of people through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus also said that we would be given the Holy Spirit if only we would ask.
How can a Christian read Luke and not do what Jesus does? Jesus states over and over that God will provide. Check out Luke 12:22-34. How can we read that and then continue striving to make more money than everyone else? How can we read that and simply have nothing to say about it. How often do we read that passage or others like it and still do nothing?
I am struggling with this. I give time to Christ in ministry. However, I am concerned because that time is technically forced at me. At Colorado Christian University I have to complete the equivalent of 22.5 ministry hours for every semester that I attend. I have to. I love that I have to, do not get me wrong. Thankfully, I have never felt forced to participate. I have loved serving God through ministries offered at CCU and am considered a mission trip this summer. However, being forced to do these ministry hours becomes problematic if the service never becomes so engrained in me that it becomes part of me. I will probably graduate in three years. What then? If serving the Lord does not become part of my life by the time I graduate, what is going to happen?
Similarly, if I do not realize how magnificent the Holy Spirit is by the time I graduate, what will happen? Here at school, I have the opportunity to learn. I am learning about God. This is the perfect time to make walking in the Holy Spirit’s leadings something that comes naturally to me. Later is too late. Think about that. Upon graduating from college, I am expected to get a job and begin my career. Under society, time for God gets pushed away unless I do not allow that to happen. It’s all about creating a life habit.
Lord, I need You to be in my life habit. I desperately want you to be my life habit, God.
Let’s be bold! Let’s ask for the Holy Spirit!