How quickly do you react to something you have heard? Does it depend on what it is you hear? If it is bad news, do you have an immediate reaction? If it is good news, do you first want to verify it before you react? How quickly did you react to the good news of Jesus Christ?
Reacting to good news or bad news can be immediate or delayed. Our reactions can depend on whether the news is expected or unexpected. When the news is expected, we may have already thought about how we will react, and our reaction is a little more predictable.
When we receive unexpected news, our immediate reaction can run the gamut from shock to excitement and anything in between. Unexpected bad news may cause us to be in shock for a moment or two while we process the information. Unexpected good news may cause us to jump for joy, scream, and throw our hands in the air.
Reacting to the good of Jesus is different, though, isn’t it? Many of us have grown up hearing about Him. We may have heard of Him from our parents and been the church our entire lives. Or we may have heard from a friend or other kids in school without really knowing who He is. Regardless, very few of us grew up without hearing something about Jesus or God.
The people Paul encountered in Ephesus had heard about God, but not Jesus. They had been baptized in John’s baptism of repentance. When they heard about Jesus, they immediately decided to be baptized into His baptism. Once Paul laid his hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit, amazing things happened.
We receive the same Holy Spirit. But how joyous are we? Our reaction should be one of joy and excitement. We should be exuberant that the Son of God has been gracious enough to send the Holy Spirit to be with us. The God we worship is not only in heaven but resides within us as well. How amazing is that!
I pray we all know the Holy Spirit resides within us. I pray we are amazed that God would take up residence within us. I pray each one of us are overjoyed that Jesus saw fit to send God’s Spirit to us. Know God lives within you. Be overjoyed. Be amazed. Give thanks to Jesus for sending the Holy Spirit.
Acts 19:5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Marty Pressey 