Some time ago I was approached to teach our youth sabbath school class, I told the person I would think about it. I had kind of already mentally decided that I couldn’t for various reasons, but I said I would think about it. I thought about it briefly then dismissed the idea. My daughter was in another class and she needed me to sit with her. I was approached again some time later by my close friend, with the suggestion of co-teaching with her sister. Ok. Fine. The location of that class was the place I had met her little sister when she was 4, so for two reasons, I said yes. Not having the full responsibility of the class, and my little girl who I had watched grow up, would be co-teaching with me.
Of course, the first quarterly lesson had to be one of the tough ones. The lesson was focused on ‘The Holy Spirit’. Oy. What did I really know about the Holy Spirit? Not much if I were to be honest. We talk about God and Jesus, and not so much about the Holy Spirit. Really God? But as usual, God surprised on the upside. I actually got to learn about the Holy Spirit and His effect on our lives when we allow Him into our lives with a beautiful group of young people as we learnt together. What I initially saw as one more church duty, has become one of my biggest blessings so far this year. I’m excited to learn along side our young people and to watch the passion and excitement that they bring to their own Christian walk.
One of the things that really surprises me is how the Holy Spirit is working and has revealed Himself in church services. Every single week, we’ll talk about a topic, some of it off course from our lessons, but it’s some how reinforced in the church service by either the children’s story or something the pastor focuses on. And I know it could only be God because these individuals are not in our classes or even near us, but they are talking about the same thing we did. I know it shouldn’t surprise me, but somehow it still catches me off guard.
One of the lessons I’m learning through the Holy Spirit is that the more we draw close to him, the closer He draws to us. James 4:8a. As I’m growing in my relationship each day, I’m realizing more and more just how God shows up in my life.
Friends, is there something God is asking you to do that you are reluctant to do? Remember how reluctant I was to start teaching, but again, it’s turned out to be a blessing above anything that I could have imagined. Jesus wants you to draw close to Him. Before he died, he promised that He would provide the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Now I finally understand why I was given such a difficult lesson to start with. It is one that will set the foundation for what’s to come.
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for the lessons, even the ones which are difficult for us to understand. Help us to draw close to you because you promised you will draw close to us and you are waiting and longing for a relationship with us.