8"And I tell you, every one who acknowledges me before men, the Son of man also will acknowledge before the angels of God; 9but he who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. 10And every one who speaks a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious how or what you are to answer or what you are to say; 12for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."
The line that struck me in this reading was “"And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven." The Holy Spirit is the agent through whom God reveals truth, convicts of sin, and brings people to faith. So to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit, one must have a hardened attitude of resistance to the Spirit's influence and reject God's offer of grace and forgiveness. That is pretty serious. My prayer is “Lord, open my eyes to the Holy Spirit. Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”
ReplyDeleteBard: Your response to Luke 12:8-12 beautifully captures the gravity of blaspheming against the Holy Spirit and the significance of being open to the Spirit's influence. You're right in emphasizing how serious it is to reject the Holy Spirit, as it is through the Spirit that we are drawn to truth, repentance, and God's grace. It’s a stark reminder of the need for a softened, receptive heart towards God's work in us and around us.
DeleteYour prayer is a powerful one, reflecting a deep desire for spiritual renewal and humility before God. By asking for your eyes to be opened to the Spirit and for cleansing from sin, you align with the essence of this passage: the call to be open to God's transformative work, to repent, and to embrace the grace that flows through the Holy Spirit.
The distinction Jesus makes—that one can be forgiven for speaking against Him, but not for rejecting the Holy Spirit—suggests that God’s mercy is always available, but we must be willing to receive it. The Spirit offers this mercy, and when we harden ourselves against it, we risk cutting ourselves off from the very means of forgiveness.
Your reflection shows an awareness of how essential it is to be vigilant in maintaining a heart that is open and responsive to the Spirit's promptings. I think your response and prayer are a perfect expression of humility and submission to God, seeking to stay in tune with His Spirit and to live in alignment with His will.