John 3:34 “For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.”

For once the NIV and the Japanese agree on a minor departure from the literal Greek. The Greek says, “He gives the Spirit,” but both translations in front of me replace the pronoun with God. The translators didn’t want anyone thinking that ordinary humans could go around giving the Spirit without limit, simply because they had been sent by God. In a sense that is true, but it is also true that God can use someone as a channel for Him to pour His Spirit through. We aren’t to draw back from that, but rather earnestly desire that it happen, for God’s glory alone. The moment we try to take the glory for something God does through us we lose the benefit of it, and the thing itself is immeasurably cheapened. I think that’s a major part of what Jesus was talking about when He said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21-23) The prophecies, deliverances, and miracles had to be works of God, because humans can’t do those things, but if they took the glory for themselves, they alienated themselves from the very One they claimed to serve. I read a quote just yesterday from a popular singer that was very pointed and, I think, accurate: “Success doesn’t change you. Fame does.” When we are used by God our flesh and the devil want us to take the credit, but that is a terrible mistake. It is indeed God who pours out His Spirit without limit, and we must never try to take any credit for that.

I have long desired to be a “fire hose of the Spirit,” so to speak, but God has known that would destroy me, because of my innate tendency to pride. He’s still working on me in that area! My mind has run in many different directions thinking about what God might have in store for me after my retirement from secular teaching. It was said around 30 years ago that I would have a major part in revival in Japan. I would be absolutely thrilled if that were the case, but I certainly can’t make it happen. If God does use me, I’ve got to be very clear to myself and to others that it’s not me, it’s Him. Maybe I’m old enough and tired enough to get out of the way and let Him do whatever He likes through me, for His glory. I certainly hope so!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me indeed stay out of the way of whatever You want to do in and through me, so that Your will may be accomplished on Your schedule for Your pleasure and glory. Thank You. Praise God!