A young pastor was about to begin a ministry in a church. His predecessor told him, ‘They’re fanatical charismatics they’re about to split the church with their craziness!’ A wiser, older pastor had other advice: ‘People filled with the Holy Spirit?’ he asked. ‘You’re lucky then. It’s much easier to put out a fire than raise the dead!’

The Holy Spirit as ‘Comforter’ sounds nice. But have you heard of the Bayeux Tapestry in France? There’s a scene in which a column of Norman soldiers is riding, and the Bishop of Bayeux rides behind them, prodding the last man with his stout stick. The caption below this scene reads: ‘Bishop Odo comforts the soldiers.’

Holy Spirit, I’m open to that sort of comforting: please fill my life again, renew my faith, empower me to serve you well, cleanse me of any sin. For the glory of Jesus. Amen.

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