Human beings are insatiably curious. We love to analyse and understand how things work. While this is mostly a good thing it can be misapplied in the Christian life. The work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a person is a mystery beyond analysis. Jesus expresses this when he says: “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” Christians have tried to systematise the process of conversion to Christ. We have tried to analyse and order the elements of the Spirit’s work. We juggle terms like the new birth, conversion, baptism of the Holy Spirit, and so on, but both Scripture and experience prevent us from being too analytical in defining how these elements outwork. Let’s understand the terms as they are used biblically and let’s catch what the Bible is saying to us when these terms are used, but let’s not create rules and norms for how these things outwork. Terms like these are different ways of referring to aspects of the one unfolding experience of transformation in Christ. Some people can pinpoint a definite conversion experience, others cannot remember a time when they didn’t believe in Jesus. Each person’s experience is different. There doesn’t need to be a universal pattern. Your experience does not need to copy someone else’s. Let your experience of God be as God wills for you. Let the wind blow where and how it wills.
Thank God for what he has done in your life.
Read John 3:1-8 again
