It was a wonder, the greatest wonder the world has ever seen! It is the day that Jesus died on the cross and made it possible for sinners like you and me to escape eternal damnation and instead find eternal rest in heaven.
A lot had to happen behind the scenes for this wonder to take place. I would love to see a documentary about all the things that had to be put in place that day. It would probably be found in a few hundred episodes.
Many of the gears that had to start rolling are not visible to humans, but we do know an important actor. Verse 5 says exactly who that actor is: 5 … He gave us a good bath, and we came out of him new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit.
If the Holy Spirit had not been involved, the salvation of humanity would not have been possible. The Holy Spirit is the renewing agent. He is the one who gets rid of the old and installs the new. And as the first part of the verse says, everything was God: 5 It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it …
This reminds me of the old television series. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. He was angry about it and could hardly wait for the show to start each week. So there I was sitting on the couch, my handkerchief ready by my side, because I knew I would cry, tears running down my chin and down my beard.
The big surprise with the knock on the door. It’s the Extreme Makeover team. The children jump up and down and Mom and Dad hug. The shattered house is shown room by room, the occupants’ dreams are written down, and the family goes on a week-long vacation in paradise.
The old house is literally demolished and taken away. Over the next few days and nights, the team goes to great lengths to create a new home for the family. Many people help. Many people donate money. Many give their time. And after a crisis or two (to break onlookers’ nerves), the house is completed just minutes before the occupants arrive.
As the bus pulls away, screaming and crying continues. I also. And as the new home is shown room by room, the excitement grows. The eyes shine. A brand new home with a whole new start. And everyone feels good as the sun goes down.
Such an enjoyable program that it gives you hope again!
In a way, that’s what the Holy Spirit does. The Holy Spirit helps us to dismantle the old and broken house of life and to put a new one. Something that we certainly cannot do alone. We can not. No, only the Holy Spirit can give us new life. Only then are our thoughts renewed. Only then are our works renewed. Only then does the self move backward and my focus shifts to others.
It is the Holy Spirit who helps us grow in our relationship with God and Jesus. Therefore, we must surrender to the Holy Spirit. We are safe in your hands.
Holy Scripture
Titus 3: 3-7
Reflection
Do you allow the Holy Spirit to do his work of renewal?
What are you still holding on to?
What do you have to do differently?
Pray
Dad! What an amazing miracle you have wrought in our lives. Thank you for the Holy Spirit who takes the initiative and helps us when we cannot continue. Help me to surrender more and more and allow the Spirit to do His work. In the name of Jesus, amen.