...for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

   - Philippians 2.13

Give and grant and impart to me, Thy holy grace, and Thy Holy Spirit, to protect me and preserve me from all my sins present and future, and to kindle in me all righteousness, and to establish me in that righteousness to my life’s end...

   - Litany of Jesus II, Irish, 15th century

“God…works in you…” Really, can there be anything more amazing than that?

The primary work of the Holy Spirit in us is to transform us into the image of Jesus Christ, that is, to create in us a desire to know, love, and obey God’s Law – and all His Word – and to empower us for obedience, so that we continually increase in righteousness (cf. Ezek. 36.26, 27; cf. 2 Cor. 3.12-18).

Yes, He is our Comforter, soothing us with forgiving grace; and yes, He is our Teacher, guiding us into all truth. He is also our Gift-giver, bringing out fruit and gifts for serving others; and He is living water, flowing out from us to touch others with the grace and truth of King Jesus.

But He is working above all to make us holy, as God our Father is holy (Matt. 5.48). The grace of God that saves is also the grace of God that sanctifies, and we can know that the Spirit is working with that grace in our lives when we can truthfully say with the psalmist, “Oh how I love your Law!” (Ps. 119.97) It won’t do glibly to assert, “I’m not under law; I’m under grace.” No one has really begun to understand the grace of God who hasn’t discovered the Law of God as a primary source for experiencing and expressing that grace.

If we have the Spirit and are being filled with Him, then we will incline toward that which is holy and righteous and good – the Law of God (Rom. 7.12). The size of the place of God’s Law in your life will determine the extent of the power of God’s Spirit you ever really know.

Look to the Spirit and grace of God to guide you into the truth of God’s Law, and to kindle in you the righteousness of Jesus and establish you in it until your life’s end. This is the way Jesus lived; it’s the way we must live as well (1 Jn. 2.1-6).

God will be at work in you when you furnish the workshop of your soul lavishly with His Law and Word.

Psalm 122.5-9 (Nettleton: “Come Thou Fount”)
On the throne of David Jesus sits to judge the nations all.
As our holy peace increases we are safe who on You call.
Grant us peace, Lord, by Your favor; for your people’s sake we pray.
For the Church’s sake, O Savior, we will seek Your good today.

Lord, make us, like Colum Cille, people who are foremost in Your Law, so that we might know you working powerfully in our lives. Adapted from Dallán Forgaill, Amra Choluimb Chille

T. M. Moore, Principal
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