It might not seem like it all the time, but the Spirit is with you forever. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 53 Q. What do you believe concerning “the Holy Spirit”? A. First, he, as well as the Father and the Son, is eternal God. Second, he has been given to me personally, so that, by true faith, he makes me share in Christ and all his blessings, comforts me, and remains with me forever. Summary This is the second time we've come to this passage in John 14 this year. The first time came as we noted the tri-une (three in one) nature of God, and that the third member of the Trinity is the Advocate, whom we more commonly refer to as the Holy Spirit. This week we've been diving in a bit deeper into who the Holy Spirit is, what He does and how this brings us comfort. Today we're focusing in on the fact that the Advocate (also known as the Comforter or the Counselor will be with you forever! But the context that this amazing promise comes in is critical to understand. The Holy Spirit has not been given to you forever as if He were some kind of Tinkerbell who sprinkles fairy dust on all your problems so that they go away. No, the Holy Spirit has been given to you so that you can fulfill the condition necessary to demonstrate your love for Christ: keeping His commands (v15). The Holy Spirit helps you do this by guiding you into the truth. This is actually going to make life more difficult for you, because you live in a world of lies that seeks to pull you away from the truth. More and more, people will belittle you and insult you as being closed minded, old fashioned, intolerant, and even unloving as you follow the Spirit of truth. Don't let this bother you; the world will never accept the Spirit because they can't see Him and don't know Him. Dig Deeper What a promise that Jesus makes to you - twice in this short passage - that the Holy Spirit will be not just with you (v16), but in you (v17). Furthermore, this isn't just a temporary condition that you experience every now and then, rather it's a relationship that will endure forever! But this doesn't mean that you will feel His presence every moment. In fact, there will be vast stretches where you don't feel Him at all, and you may even wonder if He's up and moved out. There are times when everybody in our household is so busy going in different directions that we'll go days without really seeing one another. We seem just like ships passing in the night. Yet I don't need to wonder if the other family members are still with me even though I haven't seen them, because I see all sorts of evidence on the counter and lying around the living room that assures me they're still there. The fact that Jesus has commanded you to keep His commands ought to be reason enough for you to do so. But living this counter cultural lifestyle brings with it an extra benefit: it assures you the Holy Spirit is still living in you even during those times you don't really feel Him. There's no way you can follow Christ's commands on your own, so as you see yourself doing so, you're seeing evidence that the Holy Spirit is with you. So keep those Spiritual Disciplines strong. You may not think you need them when you can clearly see the Spirit's leading in your life, but it is through those strong habits you've developed that the Spirit will keep you close to Him during those dark stretches when He seems far away. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father in heaven, who has given you the Spirit of truth; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Thank God for the assurance the Spirit will be with you forever, and ask Him for the strength to show your love for Christ by keeping His commands. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Romans 4

Don't let the comforts in this world distract you from the true Comforter. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 53 Q. What do you believe concerning “the Holy Spirit”? A. First, he, as well as the Father and the Son, is eternal God. Second, he has been given to me personally, so that, by true faith, he makes me share in Christ and all his blessings, comforts me, and remains with me forever. Summary It might seem odd in the midst of a week in which we've been focused on the person and work of the Holy Spirit to read from a passage that doesn't seem to mention the Holy Spirit at all. Paul here certainly makes reference to God the Father, as well as the Lord Jesus Christ, but he seems to just ignore the third member of the Trinity. Earlier this week we noted that the Holy Spirit is often referred to as the 'shy' member of the Trinity, since His role is to often focus our attention on the work of the Father and the Son, and in doing so the Spirit often stays in the background. So it's not all that surprising that the Spirit seems set to the side in this passage. But we also were reminded that the Holy Spirit really isn't all that shy, since He's the member of the Godhead we hear from the most, in that every word of the Bible was breathed out by Him. In fact, the verses we read today are all about the Spirit! We read one reference to the Father, three references to the Son, and at least six references to the Holy Spirit! The reason you didn't notice Him right away is because He's camouflaged: He was never directly referred to, but He was described with the repetitive use of the Greek word paraklēsis, the word Jesus often uses to refer to the Holy Spirit, which is translated here as comfort. The Holy Spirit is the "God of all comfort (v3)." Dig Deeper You probably think of 'comfortable' as being a condition in which you have no pain or discomfort. The chair you fall asleep in is comfortable, whereas the one that hurts your back is uncomfortable. One dictionary defines comfort as 'freedom from pain or constraint." So when hearing that the Bible refers to the Holy Spirit as the Comforter, you might be tempted to think He's not really present in your life because of how many uncomfortable aspects there are. A life filled with the Comforter ought to be filled with comfort, right? But keep in mind the literal meaning of the Greek word paraklēsis: the para part means alongside (like a parapro, paralegal, and paramedic work alongside a teacher, lawyer and doctor), and klēsis means to call out. So the Holy Spirit is the one who comes alongside you in "in all your troubles" and calls out to you words of "comfort and salvation." The reason people like us don't feel like we're experiencing the Holy Spirit as often as we'd like is because we're so distracted by the comforts we have in this world that we don't feel a need for "the God of all comfort." Make a habit of pushing those distractions away, so that that you can hear the Holy Spirit coming alongside you reminding you that your only comfort in life and in death is that you belong to your faithful Savior, Jesus Christ (keep reading v8-11 to see how the Holy Spirit brought this comfort to Paul when he "despaired of life itself"). AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort (v1) ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Thank God for the physical comforts He's given you, but pray that they don't distract you from the Holy Spirit coming alongside and calling out to you. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Romans 3

If you think the Bible is boring, you haven't read Ezekiel 37! Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 53 Q. What do you believe concerning “the Holy Spirit”? A. First, he, as well as the Father and the Son, is eternal God. Second, he has been given to me personally, so that, by true faith, he makes me share in Christ and all his blessings, comforts me, and remains with me forever. Summary The Old Testament book of Ezekiel can be one of the hardest to understand in the whole Bible. Ezekiel paints fantastic word pictures and describes often unimaginable scenes of God's glory that are not only hard to picture but sometimes even harder to interpret. But this episode we read today is one of Ezekiel's most famous, and although it presents a striking story of dry, dead bones morphing back into living beings, this story isn't difficult to interpret (it helps that Ezekiel tells us exactly what it means in the following verses). The bones represent God's people, who described themselves as dried up and hopeless. What's amazing is that God uses the same tool to save them that He uses on you: He sends them a preacher to prophesy, a word we often associate with predicting the future, but which actually means to proclaim God's Word on His behalf. Ezekiel's preaching has an immediate effect. Imagine what the 'rattling' sounded like as bones reconnected to each other in exactly the right sequence, and what it looked like as they were then suddenly yet incrementally fleshed out into full bodies! But as powerful as preaching is, it has a big limitation. It can reassemble broken bones, build up muscle and tendon, and cover it all with a thick skin, but it can not restore life to that which is dead. Ezekiel had witnessed a true miracle in that dry bones were transformed into healthy bodies; healthy, but still dead. But God still had use for the tool He'd given to Ezekiel, and He called Him to use it one more time. Preach, God said, but this time not to the bones, but rather to the breath. Whose breath, Ezekiel must have wondered! Certainly not the bodies laying before him, for "there was no breath in them (v8)." Here's where it helps to have read lots of the Bible. You probably remember reading that as soon as God finished forming Adam from the dust of the ground, He put His own breath into Him, and he became a living being (Gen. 2:7). Both in Hebrew (the language Ezekiel was written in) and in Greek (the language of the New Testament), the word for breath / wind is the same exact word as is used for spirit. God makes it clear who the breath Ezekiel summoned belonged to in v14 - I will open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live... Dig Deeper We spent the opening months of this year being reminded that we were born dead in sin, as dry and lifeless as the bones God brought Ezekiel to. The primary tool God has used to reanimate you is preaching - certainly on the Lord's Day from the pulpit, but also from teachers, elders and parents as they shared the Bible with you in various ways. The story of the dry bones is an excellent example of why you need even more preaching if you want to be healthy and strong. But all the preaching in the world is in vain without the blessing of the Holy Spirit, who turns hearts of stone into hearts of flesh that accept God's Word through faith. Don't miss the command God gave to Ezekiel to "preach to the Breath." You can do that by praying that the Holy Spirit will strengthen your faith and breath into the sin-slain people around you that they may live (v9). AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, the creator of life who sends out preachers to restore life; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Prophesy to the breath... pray that the Holy Spirit will further enliven you and bring new life to the spiritually dead around you. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Romans 2

Being filled with the Spirit isn't just for super-Christians, it's for ordinary believers like you. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 53 Q. What do you believe concerning “the Holy Spirit”? A. First, he, as well as the Father and the Son, is eternal God. Second, he has been given to me personally, so that, by true faith, he makes me share in Christ and all his blessings, comforts me, and remains with me forever. Summary The ancient Romans had a far different attitude toward their children than what we do today. Children, like slaves, were considered household property. Even a boy destined to inherit a vast estate grew up in such a way that was no different from anyone else, although he likely was expected to meet higher standards by his tutors than the other children were. But the day would come when everything changed. When he came of age, this boy, outwardly no different than the rest, would suddenly become an important citizen, with all the privileges and responsibilities that came with it. Paul uses this example that would have been so familiar to the Galatians to illustrate the change in status that Christians go through. At the time set by your Father, you were pulled up out of the ranks of those enslaved "under the elemental spiritual forces of the world (v3)" and given "adoption to sonship (v5)." Don't get hung up on gender here, as the term 'sonship' is a legal term implying that everything the father has now belongs to the child. Here's where this is important to our discussion this week about the Holy Spirit. Because God adopted you to sonship, He didn't just give you the 'stuff' He has in His estate (which would be the entire universe); He gave you Himself, in the person of the Holy Spirit. Dig Deeper One of the most common misunderstandings many Christians have today is that only super-Christians are endowed with the Holy Spirit; people who have extraordinary gifts and skills enabling them to publicly praise God through talents - especially music - that the rest of us ordinary folks just don't have, as if plain and boring Spiritual gifts like stewardship, hospitality and service are somehow less Spiritual than more public and expressive gifts. The very first person mentioned in the Bible to be 'filled with the Spirit of God' is not who you might expect. It's not Noah, Abraham, Joseph or Moses who get described this way. It's a man you've likely never heard of: Bezalel, the son of Uri. He was chosen by God to lead construction of the Tabernacle. This ordinary tradesman is the first to be described as Spirit-filled (Exodus 31). The point here is that certainly patriarchs like Noah, Abraham, Joseph and Moses were filled with the Spirit, but so was Bezalel. And so are you. As we've reiterated so often this year, make every effort to experience the Spirit that God has put in you by learning, developing and sharing your Spiritual gifts. This is also the best way for you to experience your only comfort in life and in death, that you belong to Jesus Christ. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who redeemed us from slavery and made us Sons of God; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Thank God for putting His Spirit in you, and pray for the courage and determination to use the Spiritual gifts you've been given. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Romans 1

The Holy Spirit may seem mysterious, but He has lots to say to you if you know where to look. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 53 Q. What do you believe concerning “the Holy Spirit”? A. First, he, as well as the Father and the Son, is eternal God. Second, he has been given to me personally, so that, by true faith, he makes me share in Christ and all his blessings, comforts me, and remains with me forever. Summary John 16 comes in the middle of one of the most intense conversations in history, as Jesus spoke to His frightened disciples hours before He'd be led off to crucifixion. These chapters in John's gospel form the basis for much of our theology and understanding of God's Tri-une (three / one) nature. This isn't just dry, irrelevant theological fluff that was optional for His followers to know. Jesus explained exactly why He spoke of these things as the disciples intently listened to each word He said. They (we) needed to hear and know this theology so that they would not fall away. Though the disciples couldn't understand it at the time, Jesus' departure was for their good, since the Advocate-Comforter-Helper (the Greek word is Paraklētos which literally means to call out from alongside) would come in Jesus' place (v7). Jesus here introduces the disciples to the Holy Spirit. Jesus doesn't speak of the Spirit as simply being another version of Himself. This is an ancient error that many have fallen into, that the God of the Old Testament morphed into Jesus, who later turned into the Holy Spirit. Although it's in this chapter late in Jesus' earthly life that we're formally introduced to the Spirit, He's been present from the very beginning. He hovered over the waters as God spoke the world into existence, He's quite active in the Old Testament, and He had made a physical appearance in the form of a dove descending upon Jesus as He was baptized. But even though the Spirit is clearly a unique individual person, He's also an inseparable part of the three-in-one God. Jesus speaks of that difficult to comprehend relationship, saying that all that belongs to the Father is His, and all that the Spirit makes known has been received from Him Dig Deeper Some have been critical of the Heidelberg Catechism in that it only has one relatively short Q/A regarding the Holy Spirit. On one hand that's true, but on the other, it will take us this entire week to chew on this answer, and even that won't be enough time to fully digest all that it communicates. The Holy Spirit has often been referred to as the 'shy' member of the Trinity, because His entire purpose is magnifying the glory of the Father and the Son and not in focusing attention on Himself. That may seem to be the case, but this isn't necessarily an accurate description. Certainly the Bible doesn't tell us as much about the Spirit as what it does about the Father and the Son, but remember that every word you read in the Bible was breathed out by the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16), which guides you into the truth. As we look at the sheer volume of information that the Spirit has spoken, we see that the Spirit isn't shy at all! This is tricky stuff that transcends logic: that God is both three and one. But the best way to experience the peace of God that is your only comfort in life and in death is to listen to the very expressive member of the Trinity: the Holy Spirit. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Thank God for speaking to you through the words breathed out by the Holy Spirit and pray for a growing desire to listen to Him more and more. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Matthew 28

There are only two types of people. You can recognize them by how they relate to God's Word. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 52 Q. How does Christ’s return “to judge the living and the dead” comfort you? A. In all my distress and persecution I turn my eyes to the heavens and confidently await as judge the very One who has already stood trial in my place before God and so has removed the whole curse from me. All his enemies and mine he will condemn to everlasting punishment: but me and all his chosen ones he will take along with him into the joy and the glory of heaven. Summary Psalm 119 is of course the longest chapter in the Bible. It's an acrostic, and in the passage we're reading today each line begins with the Hebrew letter resh (ר). Even though the psalm has approx. 8 verses for each letter of the Hebrew Alefbet, each of the 22 passages has the same theme: extolling the Word of God. In total there are over 170 references to God's Word using all sorts of different words to describe it, such as "law," "precepts," "commands," "statutes," "testimonies," "ways," "word," and "decrees," among others. In the passage we're looking at, the relationship between God's Word and salvation is made clear v153: Deliverance comes to those who've not forgotten God's law. v156: The Lord's compassion preserves life according to God's law. Those who ignore God's Word will miss out on His salvation: v155: Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek out your decrees. v158: The faithless do not obey your word. Even though this psalm makes clear over and over the responsibility you have to stay close to the Bible to maintain your salvation, it still makes it clear that you're saved by God's sovereignty and not your efforts. Salvation is the result of God's promise (v154) and your preservation comes in accordance with God's love (v159). Dig Deeper We live in a culture that loves nuance and diversity. Binary designations such as black or white, right or wrong and even male or female are frowned upon and discarded. While there's certainly room for a variety of expressions and opinions in many contexts, Psalm 119 helps illustrate that when it comes to salvation, there are just two kinds of people: God's enemies: the wicked who do not seek out God's Word. They will be condemned to everlasting punishment when Christ returns. Those whom God has chosen for salvation. They will be taken along with Christ after He judges the living and the dead into the joy and glory of heaven. These people should be easy to spot in life, because they are people who love the Lord's precepts. Which kind of person are you? Are you getting a full diet of God's Word each Lord's Day and throughout the week as well? Is your love for God's Word and your obedience to it evident to others? The more you can answer those questions affirmatively, the more you will experience the only comfort in life and in death that we're studying this year. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father in heaven, who defends our cause and preserves our lives according to His promise; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that your love for God's Word will grow each day and that you will not forget His law. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Matthew 27

Lift your eyes to the one who stood trial so you could have freedom. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 52 Q. How does Christ’s return “to judge the living and the dead” comfort you? A. In all my distress and persecution I turn my eyes to the heavens and confidently await as judge the very One who has already stood trial in my place before God and so has removed the whole curse from me. All his enemies and mine he will condemn to everlasting punishment: but me and all his chosen ones he will take along with him into the joy and the glory of heaven. Summary Psalm 121 is a Song of Ascent - one of the psalms that Jewish people traveling to Jerusalem would sing as they walked uphill towards the city with God's temple. As they lifted their eyes toward their destination up in the hills while singing this song, it turned their thoughts away from the fatigue of their journey and toward the one who would not let their foot slip and was keeping them from all harm: the maker of heaven and earth. They sang of the God who stayed awake, watching over His children throughout the long nights as they slept. That same God shaded them during the heat of the day. This same God who watched over His faithful covenant people thousands of years ago as they ascended His holy mountain to worship continues to watch over your life, both now and forever more. Dig Deeper This Psalm is a beautiful reminder of God's care and providence in any context, but especially so as we come to it as we're being reminded that Christ will return to judge the living and the dead. It might often seem that even though God has promised to watch over you and guard you, that the mountain that stands between you and Him is too steep to climb. Notice in our catechism passage today that the coming judgment of Christ is not presented in a way that magnifies His mighty vengeance on all of His enemies, but rather the focus is on the fact that Christ descended the mountain so that in Him you could ascend the unclimbable mountain into God's presence. The curse of the coming judgment has been removed you and you have no reason to fear its coming. Yet you will continue to endure "distress and persecution" until Christ returns or calls you home. The path will seem slippery and the sun will bear down during the day and the nights will be long. In all this, add Psalm 121 to the soundtrack of your life. Like the Israelites of long ago, keep your eyes looking up to the heavens, knowing your help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth who sent His Son down to earth that you might be lifted up to Him. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: I lift my eyes unto the mountains- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Thank God you have been delivered from judgment and pray that He will continue to watch over your life. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Matthew 26

Which would you rather have: the anxiety of this world or the peace of God? Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 51 Q. How does this glory of Christ our head benefit us? A. First, through his Holy Spirit he pours out his gifts from heaven upon us his members. Second, by his power he defends us and keeps us safe from all enemies. Summary This is a wonderful and familiar passage, and one that we're likely to come back to before the year is out. But for today, let's concentrate on v7: And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. The first thing that jumps out is that peace is not just a fringe benefit of Christianity, rather it's the active agent by which Jesus preserves you in your faith. What a comforting thought, knowing that our risen Savior has control over all things, and that He's continually "defending us and keeping us safe from all enemies," as our catechism stated. This guarding that Christ does on your behalf has two aspects. First, it's defensive; just as the guards at Buckingham palace keep the riffraff out, so to Jesus keeps the wolves in this world from harming you. As you increase your knowledge, understanding and trust in Jesus, he tunes your mind to recognize truth and reject falsehood. Secondly, Christ guards you in such a way that keeps you from escaping. This sounds dark and ominous, but it's really quite the opposite. Our old sinful nature wants nothing more than to get as far away from God as possible (an impossible quest, since God is everywhere as we were recently reminded), but Christ helps you overcome that nagging temptation by "guarding your heart." He does this in conjunction with the Holy Spirit by causing your regenerated heart to long to be closer to Him. As Jesus said in John 10:28, no one - not even Sarx, your nagging sinful nature, can snatch you out of His hand! Dig Deeper This means, as we see so often in God's Word, that you must make every effort to follow the instructions that come in v6 - instead of stewing in anxiety, in every situation you face present your needs to God in prayer with thanksgiving. What a thought that even though the glorified Christ guards you omnipotently from heaven He does so in such a way that utilizes your action. Certainly Christ will guard you despite your own passivity, but if you truly want to trade your anxiety for the peace of God, the only way to do it is to continually live in God's presence, bringing your needs to Him while you simultaneously thank God for all that He's given you. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, the great and holy God, is near. ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Do not be anxious about anything; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Matthew 25

Don't wonder if you have Spiritual gifts, know what they are and how to use them. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 51 Q. How does this glory of Christ our head benefit us? A. First, through his Holy Spirit he pours out his gifts from heaven upon us his members. Second, by his power he defends us and keeps us safe from all enemies. Summary These last few weeks we've been dwelling on some of the core doctrines the Bible teaches about Jesus: that He died, was buried, and rose again. After a short while, to the surprise of His disciples, He ascended to heaven where He now sits at God's right hand as head of His Church, while God rules all things through Him. Like the disciples, we often stare longingly into the sky wondering why Jesus left us, but once again today we're reminded that this is all for our benefit. For Immanuel - that is, God With Us - is still very much right here with you, albeit not physically, but now in the person of the Holy Spirit, who was poured out on you when you believed. In our circles we're often left thinking that there are two different types of Christians: the super Spirit filled type, and then just regular, ordinary church folks like us. This is not at all the case. If you are able to meaningfully confess that "Jesus is Lord," that is evidence enough that the Holy Spirit is in you, since such a confession is completely contrary to a sinful nature. It is true, however, that the outward appearances of the Spirit differs from person to person. Some people have been gifted in ways that are easily seen and garner more attention, while others have gifts that may seem dull and boring in comparison. But the final paragraph of today's passage illustrates that there are no unnecessary Spiritual gifts, because the flashier, more outwardly visible gifts are very much dependent on the solid, well grounded but slightly less noticeable gifts. As Paul concludes in v11, "All these [gifts] are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines." Dig Deeper You've likely participated in some sort of gift exchange with friends or coworkers at Christmas time. Often some people will go home with a really awesome, useful gift, while others will end up with a meaningless lump that was traded off three times before it ended up in their lap. Or maybe you showed up at the office Christmas party but didn't realize you were supposed to bring a gift for the exchange, so you have to watch others give and receive while you sit empty handed. This is often the way Christians feel about Spiritual gifts, and given the statistics, it's probably the way you feel. If that does describe you, cling to the truth in 1 Corinthians 12. If you're a Christian - and you are if you can truly confess Jesus is Lord - then you have Spiritual gifts. Find out what they are (you'll be surprised how many there are). As much as you can, figure out why the Spirit "determined" to give you that gift, remembering that "the same God is at work" in every gift, regardless of how flashy or plain it may seem. Then find out how to use the gift you have to build up Christ's Church. Make every effort (a phrase used throughout the New Testament) to train yourself, develop your gifts and utilize them often. And remember, as the Catechism reminds you today, that while God certainly intends for you to use your gift to benefit the Church, He gave it (them?) to you for your benefit. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who is at work in this world through the Spiritual gifts He's given to His children; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Ask God to help you know what your gift(s) are and that He'll give you the strength and desire to use them to build the Church. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Matthew 24

God rules all things through His Church, so be sure to be a strong part of it. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 50 Q. Why the next words: “and is seated at the right hand of God”? A. Christ ascended to heaven, there to show that he is head of his church, and that the Father rules all things through him. Summary We left off on Friday with a description of Jesus' triumphal homecoming into heaven written 1,000 before it happened in Psalm 24. What a tremendous celebration it was - not just that Jesus had returned, but the invitation that He received from God the Father we read about today to sit at His right hand and "rule in the midst of your enemies," "crush kings," and "judge the nations." David here also reminds us of the guarantee God makes that we read about on Friday in 2 Corinthians. "The Lord has sworn," David writes, "and will not change His mind: you [Jesus Christ] are a priest forever!" One of God's most comforting attributes is that He is immutable - He does not - can not - ever change. He will not change His mind and He by His very nature must keep His promises. If Psalm 24 were the only passage from scripture we had, it would be sufficient for us to live confidently. The LORD is in charge, He is and will crush all who stand against Him, and nothing can change His mind or prevent His victory. Dig Deeper Think Jesus is just a nice guy, welcoming children to sit on his lap, all while turning His cheek to all who wish to strike Him? Yes, He very much is all of those things, but this gentle nature is but a fraction of who Jesus is. Passages like Psalm 110 are necessary to round out our understanding of Him, and to remind us to worship Him in reverence and fear! Yet it sure doesn't seem that Psalm 110 is accurate in our day and age. The kings and rulers of society seem to be thriving in careless indifference to God's unchanging will, and nothing seems to happen. This is why it's good to follow the catechism. In summarizing all of scripture, it helps interpret every part of scripture. Today it reminds us that God is realizing these victories with Jesus at His right hand, and that they are being won not in the political or social spheres, but in the Church, of which Jesus is the head. But even still, the Church seems to be weaker than ever. Our churches are emptier than they were decades ago, and many people we know and love have abandoned it. But just like the angels reminded the disciples not to come to conclusions based solely on what they saw as they watched Jesus disappear behind a cloud, don't base your understanding of the Church only on what you see in the pews around you. Know that at this very minute, that God rules all things through Jesus, the head of the Church, who sits at His right hand. Therefore, remain confident that it's through the Church that God will make His enemies a footstool despite the fact that the gates of Hell will rise up against it. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who will never change His mind and will achieve victory through the Church; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Thank God for your local church, and pray that God will strengthen you in it so that you can heed God's call to serve Him arrayed in holy splendor (v3) ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Matthew 23