May 15

I have a glove here in my hand. The glove cannot do anything by itself, but when my hand is in it, it can do many things. True, it is not the glove, but my hand in the glove that acts. We are gloves. It is the Holy Spirit in us who is the hand, who does the job. We have to make room for the hand so that every finger is filled.

Gracious Spirit, dwell with me

I myself would gracious be

And with words that help and heal

would Thy life in mine reveal

And with actions bold and meek

would for Christ my Saviour speak

—Thomas Lynch

For God is at work in you . . .

Philippians 2:13    

Thank You, Lord, that I am only a glove and the Holy Spirit is the hand in the glove.

May 7

People sometimes ask me.

“Can a person be saved so quickly?”

I ask them to remember Levi, the tax collector who closed his office and followed Jesus.

“But that was Jesus who asked him to come,” they reply.

“Yes, and who converts people now? Certainly not us! Jesus asks them to follow Him, and uses us, and they say yes to Him.”

For God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Philippians 2:13    

A simple yes is all we need to begin our real life when You ask, Lord. It does not matter which human teacher is used in our conversion. It is Your working through him that is important.