«And again [Jesus] said, ‘To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened’ » (Luke 13:20, 21).
HAVE YOU NOTICED THE VERY PECULIAR WAY in which the apostle John referred to himself in the gospel that bears his name? It says «The disciple whom Jesus loved» (see John 13:23; 20:2; 21: 7, 20). Why did he not say, «The disciple who loved Jesus?»
To refer to himself, John had other options: «son of Zebedee,» «brother of James,» «one of the sons of thunder”. But that was his favorite way of naming himself. Why? Because no one better than he knew how much his life had changed since he had begun to contemplate the immaculate beauty of Christ’s character. The man who «was not only self-assertive and ambitious for honor, but impetuous, and resentful under injuries» saw «the strength and patience, the power and tenderness, the majesty and meekness . . . in the daily life of the Son of God. «—Steps to Christ, ch. 8, p. 73. And he could no longer be the same John!
How did the change take place in the «son of thunder»? The parable of the yeast helps us understand. In the same imperceptible and silent way that yeast leavens all the dough, so the Spirit of God gradually transforms the lives of those who come in contact with the Savior. The change takes place from the inside out, but it is not the product of human effort. From beginning to the end, it is God’s work: «But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord» (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Was this not exactly what happened in John’s life? «Day by day his heart was drawn out toward Christ, until he lost sight of self in love for his Master.»—Ibid. Of all the disciples, John was «the one who most fully reflected the likeness of the Saviour. «—Ibid. The things God does!
Now the question of the day: If the power of the Holy Spirit could transform the «son of thunder,» can it not transform you and me, too? The answer is a conclusive «yes.»
«None are so vile . . . as to be beyond the working of this power. In all who will submit themselves to the Holy Spirit a new principle of life is to be implanted; the lost image of God is to be restored in humanity (Christ’s Object Lessons, ch. 7, p. 96).
Holy Spirit, I do not want to be content with a simple improvement in my life Starting today. please do Your complete work in me so that I can reflect more and more of Christ’s character.
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Taken from: Devotional Readings for Adults 2022
“GREAT IS OUR GOD!”
From: FERNANDO ZABALA
Collaborators: Xiomara Perdomo & Angelica Cuate
