"Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." -John 36:8

Near the end of Jesus' ministry on earth, he began teaching the disciples that he would be with them always, even when they couldn't see him. During this time, he prepared them to receive the Holy Spirit, Jesus within them, a Jesus that never goes away. They'd been so used to walking with the Rabbi, asking him questions, depending on him to take care of any trouble they encountered along the way. And now, he needed to train them that they would have to go to a deeper and more mature place. They would have to encounter a Jesus who is deep, deep down inside. He prepared them to receive the Holy Spirit.

Through that lesson, we, too, are taught to receive the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Well, okay, so Bobby, you're saying that God is always around? God is always with me, but stuff still happens, right? Horrible things still happen. I'm still suffering and God's still here. So, why does that happen? Why is God so invisible?

God has to be, in a way, invisible. God has to give us a choice because of love. God created us in his image so that he could know us and we could have a relationship, a real loving relationship. He did not create automaton droids. He didn't create robots. He wanted real people that could choose to walk away from him or walk with him because that's what makes love real.

Without choice, love does not exist.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I choose to believe that you are always with me through the Holy Spirit. As did the disciples so many years ago, I will accept the invisible, always present Holy Spirit into my heart and life to guide and comfort me each step of the way. Amen.

Devotion: How have you experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life?

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Prayer:

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Reflection:

"Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'  The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
-John 36:8