I heard the Spirit today

The way the Holy Spirit works is pretty mysterious to me. Sometimes I wonder if I am actually “hearing” Him or if it’s just my imagination.

I still wonder about the whole “speaking in tongues” thing too.

I think I might have done that…

One time.

MAYBE ?

That’s a big maybe.

I definitely can’t explain it well. So someone might have just slipped something in my drink that day.

But I think I heard him speak to me today. And by “heard” I mean – I heard Him in my thoughts.

I’ve been asked to teach a 3-week series in January on the topic, “Others First” for the 7th and 8th graders at our church.

I was pretty sure I was going to say no to the request, but I said I would consider it.

I am a group leader for about twelve 8th graders this year, but this is a different story for me.

This scares me.

Imagine 80 guys and girls staring at you – waiting for you to say something stupid so they can laugh at you and mock you.

80 kids who are probably thinking the world revolves around them, and the last thing they want to hear is to put Others First.

80 kids !!!

But what the Spirit won’t let me get away from is the fact that…

These are 80 kids whom Jesus loved enough to die for.

This…

is all I need to proclaim.

Because the only reason any of us will ever truly put another person first – whether it be our spouse, our child, our friend or enemy,

or 80 middle school kids…

Is that Jesus put us first.

I love these guys and girls because He first loved me.

And I’m going to show my love by proclaiming His love publicly for 3 weeks in January.

Jesus will teach us how to put others first.

And I’m not really scared anymore.

I still think the Spirit works mysteriously, but I believe part of that mystery is the way He works through the mundane, everyday stuff of life…

Like an elder from your church asking you to teach, some encouraging words from your visiting mother-in-law, and a Donald Miller book you just “happened” to be reading on how to live a better story.

All I know is…

when you hear someone telling you to love somebody the way Jesus loves you…

That sounds like the Holy Spirit to me.