After this recent cold snap, I did a bit of research. It seems that at least every other year, we experience single-digit temperatures in January. This surprised me, as I don’t typically associate our area with such cold spells. Regardless of whether you enjoy the cold, there’s a spiritual lesson we can learn from these temperature drops.
From inside your house, the bright blue sky and sunshine can give the impression that it’s not too cold outside. However, once you step outdoors, you quickly realize that a light jacket won’t keep you warm—the cold air hits you like a shock. To avoid shivering your way to the car, you change your attire, putting on a winter coat, a hat, and perhaps gloves. That sudden chill serves as a wake-up call to change.
I can’t help but reflect on how the work of the Holy Spirit is akin to this experience with cold weather. Whether you’re struggling to comprehend how much God loves you or battling against persistent sin in your life, the Holy Spirit is there to bring about a shock. Sometimes, He surprises you by revealing the depth of God’s love; other times, He confronts you with the reality of your sinfulness. In both cases, He compels you to change, prompting you to reconsider how you live so that you may desire genuine transformation in your life. Ultimately, the Holy Spirit is driving you to pursue the things that are above.
Galatians 2:20 states, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” It’s easy to grow comfortable with sinful patterns in your life, much like gazing at a snowy landscape from the warmth of your living room. But when you step outside, you are confronted with your necessity for warm clothing. As the Holy Spirit moves in your life this year, allow His leading to shock you into turning away from sin and cause you to pursue heavenly things. Let the message of Galatians 2:20 remind you that you have been crucified with Christ, and you no longer live for yourself but for God.
