(Today begins the last week in our seven week series, “The Kingdom of God Is Like…Changing Culture for the Sake of the World.” This week’s devotions find their heart in the parable of the friend in need, Luke 11:5-13)

by Rev Douglas Brauner

God gives us his best.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

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!”
Luke 11:13 English Standard Version

I’m not a good gift giver, so these words of Jesus hit me differently than they do others. I’m not sure that I know how to give good gifts to my children. I think that I’m better than I used to be, but gift giving doesn’t come easy for me.

Gift giving is not difficult for God.

God’s gifts are seen in creation. The mountains, plains, and oceans…even this waterfall are God’s gift to us. We are awestruck by the majesty of creation.

God has given us the gift of redemption. This is a gift that has daily significance for us. There is no situation that God can not, or will not, redeem. There is no sin so great that the blood of Jesus can’t cleanse.

What intrigues me most about what Jesus says is that his Father will give us the best he has to give. He will give, and he does give, his gift of the Holy Spirit. However, this gift is hard for us to comprehend. We can see creation, we believe in redemption, but the gift of the Holy Spirit is a different kind of gift. Jesus states the that the wind blows where it wills. We hear the effect of that wind in creation, but we don’t know where it comes from.

Those of us who have been born of the Spirit are like the wind (John 3:8). The Holy Spirit works in us continually. This same Spirit works through us to make a difference in the world. This Spirit is a gift that we have received from the gracious hand of God.

It is the best gift that God has to give to his people. It is through this gift, and this gift alone, that we see Jesus.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado