WE FIND A good many within the Christian churches still trying to climb the ladder of worthiness and ending in barren frustration, trying a little harder, doing a little better, being more disciplined and careful, always whipping up the will, tired with self-effort. A leading layman said to me, “For fifty years I’ve been trying to climb that ladder, and now I see salvation is the gift of God. I’ve not been humble enough to receive.”
Many are puzzled as to how the Holy Spirit is received. Someone has said, “The biggest question in theology is this: How do we receive the Holy Spirit?” Paul is clear. “Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith? . . . Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?” (Gal. 3:2, 5).
Salvation and the gift of the Spirit are both by the hearing of faith, by receptivity, or faith-filled receptivity. There are some still among us who believe that you can get the Holy Spirit by stepping into a long line of apostolic succession and having a bishop’s hands laid on you. You may receive Him because you receive Him by faith in the living Christ, but if you have faith that only because you are in this line of succession you will thereby receive the Holy Spirit, the certainty is that you won’t receive Him. You are trying to receive Him by a mechanical contrivance—by a so-called unbroken line of laid-on hands, and that is trying to receive Him by the works of the law, by a carefully guarded pipeline. That Jesus should commit His most precious gift, the gift of the Holy Spirit, to that mechanical contrivance is unthinkable. The open heart, surrender, and receptivity upward and not a leaky line backward, is the way to receive the Holy Spirit.
Dear Father, we thank Thee that the promise of the Holy Spirit is to those who ask, that this is for everyone who is called, and that Thy grace calls all. I stand under open heavens and receive Thy gift and am grateful to my fingertips. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: The highest gift of God, the Holy Spirit, is free for the asking—if I ask with my life in the asking.
