An Essential Lifeline

A human umbilical cord—a baby’s lifeline before its birth—can measure close to 24 inches in length. This ingenious apparatus contains three blood vessels—two to carry waste products out and one that delivers to the baby about a pint of fresh blood, containing oxygen and nutrients, every minute during the final trimester.

Due to the activity of embryos, many babies are born with the umbilical cord wrapped around their neck, and about one percent are born with an actual knot in the cord. Thankfully, due to the cord’s built-in safety features, this rarely causes problems.

For Christians, the Holy Spirit is just as essential a lifeline. We cannot survive without Him, “for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Jesus taught that “unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Yet as believers, we need to go beyond justification and receive the fullness of God’s Spirit into our lives so we can grow as Christians.

Titus 3:5 says that we need “the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (and then explains the reason) “that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (v. 7). Over time, the Spirit works out the necessary progress in our spiritual lives; this is the work of sanctification.

Everything that Jesus wants to do in our lives is done by the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures even refer to Him as the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9). Once we have chosen to give our lives to Jesus, we must rely on His Spirit to transform us to be more Christ-like and empower us to reach others for Him. These are things we simply can’t accomplish on our own but the Spirit can do through us. If we don’t resist the Holy Spirit, He will work continuously in our lives to bring us salvation and maturity.

Apply It:

Ask God each morning to fill you with His Holy Spirit.

Dig Deeper:

Ephesians 5:18; Acts 9:17; Acts 19:1–6

Key Bible Texts

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31 KJV)