Is he in you?

A few years back I took a course at Ashland Theological Seminary called Women Spiritual Writers. It was taught by my favorite professor, Dr. JoAnn Ford Watson. Dr. Watson was a passionate teacher and yet supremely scholarly. I once asked her a question and she began to write the Hebrew and Greek on the board breaking down every bit of my question in a matter of moments. She was excellent. Anyway, the course focused on Seven Women Mystics. Being young in my faith and still largely uneducated, I was concerned about the word "Mystic." It turns out that the word "mystic" in Christianity refers to someone that is so full of God's Spirit that they overflow with His presence and power.

At the same time that I was taking this course I was also studying Spiritual Disciplines. The combination of the two courses led me to meditate on Acts 3:6, "Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." The context of this scripture is that Peter and John were heading up to the temple to worship when they were stopped by a crippled man begging for money. Peter provided something much better than money and even better than the ability to walk, Christ.

It was in this verse that God spoke to me and asked me the question, "Am I in you?" I was thinking to myself, "Is Christ in me? If he is, should I not seek to be like one the mystics-overflowing with God's Spirit?" I thought about Acts 3:6 for a long time. I thought if I were asked for something from a beggar I would likely respond by giving them money,not Christ. That was an indictment on my walk with God as well as my insight to what man truly needs in his life. Even if I were to offer a man Christ I don't believe I am so full of his spirit that healing would come through our interaction.

Right now things are tough in our nation (relatively speaking). People are suffering. Some are looking for money, some are looking for a job, some are looking for a hand out or a hand up. What we are truly looking for is Christ. God is the ultimate provider of all things in life. He is a our supply. During these difficult times we need to turn to Him for direction. "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.-Psalm 55:22"

There used to be Gatorade commercials that showed people from various sports working out, competing, etc...During these commercials people would sweat the Gatorade flavor that they were drinking. At the end of the commercial Gatorade would ask the question, "Is it in you?" One commercial in particular showed a man getting punched in the face during a boxing match. His body gave off a Gatorade glow like he was the Last Dragon. I ask the same question of you (and myself), "Is He in you?" When life hits you hard, or when you are sweating about your circumstances, when we see you doing your thing....would we see the Spirit of the Lord oozing out of you?

Life might be punching you in the face. Relationships may not be the way you want them,job situation may be out of whack, you may not know where to go. You might be looking to go to your corner for a rest or want to throw in the white towel of surrender. Don't do that. Instead seek God our Father. Ask Him to fill you to the full so that you may receive healing and in turn, like the mystics of old, provide healing to others. Be like Peter, "Silver and Gold I do not have, but what I have I give to you"-CHRIST. Is He in You?

Below is an old Jordan Gatorade Commercial. It was the closest illustration I could find of the old commercials. If you watch closely, at the end of the commercial you will see Jordan dripping with Gatorade. If you have a better clip let me know. Thanks.