33 DAYS TO PENTECOST

TEXT: LUKE 3:21,22

 ²¹Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,

 ²²And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

KEY TEXT: Luke 3:22 “…The Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him…”

REFLECTION:  Our Lord’s baptism must have been an amazing sight: Jesus coming up out of the water, the voice from heaven, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased,” and the fluttering wings of the dove overhead.  The Father, the Son, and the Spirit were all present and evident.

That the Spirit appeared in the form of a dove is profoundly proper.  Jesus spoke once of doves, “Behold I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” (Matthew 10:16). To Jesus the dove was a symbol of meekness, purity, innocence, and harmlessness.  One writer noted, “The dove was not majestic like the eagle, or fierce like the hawk, or flamboyant like the cardinal…It was simple, common, and innocent.”  This is the essential character of the Spirit—the Spirit of Christ—who invites “all who labor and are heavy laden…I will give you rest.”

There is one other aspect of the dove’s nature that we must not ignore.  Doves are not only pure, they are perceptive.  My Grandfather used to tell the story of a farmer who discovered a dove’s nest on his farm.  Day by day, week after week, the farmer sought to win the confidence of the doves.  Holding grain in his hand and speaking softly to the doves, the farmer was finally able to convince the doves to eat from his hand.   

After a few weeks, the farmer wondered how long it would take for the doves to distrust him.  When the doves came to be fed, the farmer closed his hand.  The next day the doves were hesitant to come, but when they came the farmer closed his hand.  On the third day, the farmer again coaxed the doves to his open hand of food, and again he closed his hand.  The doves never again returned to the farmer.

Paul warns, “Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30).  May we never close our hearts to the influence of the Spirit lest we drive him away and forfeit the seal of our redemption.

PRAYER: Our Father, We are truly grateful for the witness of thy Holy Spirit that we are the children of God.  The “Blessed Assurance” that “Jesus is mine” is worth more than anything in the world.  We pray that our hearts would always be open to the Spirit of Holiness.  We pray that our lives would be led by that same Spirit.  And we pray that the Spirit would bear witness with our spirits that we are your children. May we not grieve but believe Thee throughout this day.  In the name of Jesus, Amen. “Our Father, &c.”