Morning Meditation: "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over and through all and in all."- Ephesians 4:1-6

John came preaching a baptism of repentance. He was God's messenger, sent to "prepare the way for the Lord" (Isaiah 40:3). He called to the people to come out of the dryness of their spiritual desert wasteland and enter the land of promise in Christ Jesus, where they would find streams of living water flowing in abundance. "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit" (Mark 1:8). There is one baptism for the one body of Christ - the baptism of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13). Because of the gift of the Spirit, which is received at conversion, we are all members of the body of Christ. All believers have experienced this once-for-all baptism. And the evidence of salvation is the witness of the Spirit within. "The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children" (Romans 8:16).

God has given all His people His Holy Spirit to indwell them. It is only through the indwelling and enabling power of the Holy Spirit that we can walk in harmony and live in unity. When Jesus stood up on the last and greatest day of the Feast, the moment of "the pouring out of the water," He declared in a loud voice, that whoever would come to Him would be forever connected to the eternal source of life; the perpetual fountain of living and running water that would never run dry and forever satisfy their thirst. " 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within.' By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive" (John 7:37-39a). The evidence of this vital connection would be witnessed in a holy and fruitful life; a life that is truly transformed within will produce good fruit. It is the Holy Spirit, who is deposited within each believer at the moment of conversion, which enables His people to be more like Christ. "Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them" (Matthew 7:20). We have all been given "the one Spirit to drink," to refresh and replenish our souls so we can produce the fruit of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13b; Galatians 5:22-23). Holy Spirit we thank You for Your presence which has joined us into a more perfect union with Jesus Christ, to make us one with Him and to live a holy life as one Body in Christ. Amen.

"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts;

and though all its parts are many, they form one body.

So it is with Christ.

For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body -

whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free -

and we were all given one Spirit to drink."

(1 Corinthians 12:12-13)

Afternoon Devotion: "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." - Colossians 3:12-15