Our Daily Bread
Wednesday, May 17, 1995

Read: 2 Corinthians 1:12-22


                            LION OIL
                                
                   He who ... has anointed us
                 is God, who also has sealed us
                     and given us the Spirit
                          in our hearts
                         as a guarantee.

                     - 2 Corinthians 1:21-22


The ritual of anointing is practice in almost every religion and
among all races. Although application of oil may sometimes be
done for medicinal reasons, frequently it is also thought to
imbue a person with certain desired qualities or powers. Some
people in East Africa, for example, pour lion oil on themselves,
hoping to gain courage and strength for some great task.

The Bible speaks of an anointing that enables a person to take
on the characteristics of another, but it is not with the oil of
lions. Instead, it is the coming of the Holy Spirit into a
person's life (2 Cor. 1:21-22).

This divine anointing is performed by God Himself on all who have
the wonderful privilege of becoming His children. It accompanies
the conversion of those who trust in Christ. Paul said that the
Spirit indwells every believer, and His presence is the guarantee
of our future glory in heaven (v.22). As a result of His
indwelling presence, we have the ability to become more like
Christ (3:17-18).

We who are born of God have no excuse for remaining as we are. We
can be increasingly conformed to the image of Christ by yielding
ourselves to God's anointing-- the Holy Spirit who dwells in our
hearts.

- Martin R. De Haan II

               Father, thank You for Your Spirit--
                Fill us with His love and power;
                Change us into Christ's own image
                  Day by day and hour by hour.
                                
                             - Anon.


Thought for the Day: The Father gave the Spirit to make
                     us like His Son.

The Bible in One Year: Job 11-13



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