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By Elizabeth Prata
The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit. (John 3:8)
I lived in Maine for almost 30 years. It's cold. It's windy. A fun trip we'd take was to the top of Mt. Washington Observatory in the White Mountains of nearby New Hampshire. That is a place known for its wild and erratic weather, and for holding the record for most of the 20th century for highest ever recorded wind speed of 231 mph.
When you live in and near the mountains and there is a lot of wind, you notice that many of the trees are stunted. It's hard for them to grow in severe conditions. There's actually a "tree line", the line where trees stop growing and at higher elevations and it's just scrub and rocks to the summit.
You also notice that the trees are bent away from the wind. Trees are actually structures, and wind creates a heavy load against them. Constant aerodynamic drag eventually sculpts or molds the tree. The tree's resistance declines and it conforms to the direction of the wind. Like these trees:
We might look at a windswept tree and notice it standing tall. We might return in 30 years and notice that it has conformed to the prevailing wind and it's been shaped. However, if we were to return to the mountain top or the field where the tree is every day, we would not notice the slow transformation of it.
It is like that with us. The Holy Spirit slowly transforms His people. He chips away at our resistance. Day by day in increments not seen, we are being transformed into Christ's likeness. If we knew someone as an unregenerate person, celebrated their salvation, but then went to work in another country for 30 years, and then returned, we would notice a massive change in their character, morals, spirit, and mind. But it's something one does not notice as much day by day. We cannot see the Spirit but we know where He has been by the people He has conformed.
Now imagine the multiplication of His work among an entire congregation. Like this:
The Holy Spirit is amazing. He is always at work, conforming, transforming, changing, producing fruit. Yet He is invisible, and only always points to Christ.
Our one God in three Persons...the Trinity...God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, worthy to be praised.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:14).
The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit. (John 3:8)
I lived in Maine for almost 30 years. It's cold. It's windy. A fun trip we'd take was to the top of Mt. Washington Observatory in the White Mountains of nearby New Hampshire. That is a place known for its wild and erratic weather, and for holding the record for most of the 20th century for highest ever recorded wind speed of 231 mph.
When you live in and near the mountains and there is a lot of wind, you notice that many of the trees are stunted. It's hard for them to grow in severe conditions. There's actually a "tree line", the line where trees stop growing and at higher elevations and it's just scrub and rocks to the summit.
You also notice that the trees are bent away from the wind. Trees are actually structures, and wind creates a heavy load against them. Constant aerodynamic drag eventually sculpts or molds the tree. The tree's resistance declines and it conforms to the direction of the wind. Like these trees:
 |
| Photographer: Andrew Bone from Weymouth, England. Wikimedia CC |
 |
| Windswept "Bent Tree" on Big Island, HI. Photographer- mccready. Wiki CC |
It is like that with us. The Holy Spirit slowly transforms His people. He chips away at our resistance. Day by day in increments not seen, we are being transformed into Christ's likeness. If we knew someone as an unregenerate person, celebrated their salvation, but then went to work in another country for 30 years, and then returned, we would notice a massive change in their character, morals, spirit, and mind. But it's something one does not notice as much day by day. We cannot see the Spirit but we know where He has been by the people He has conformed.
Now imagine the multiplication of His work among an entire congregation. Like this:
 |
| Source: Wikimedia Commons |
The Holy Spirit is amazing. He is always at work, conforming, transforming, changing, producing fruit. Yet He is invisible, and only always points to Christ.
Our one God in three Persons...the Trinity...God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, worthy to be praised.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:14).
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