This morning, I led a book study for a couple dozen ladies in my local church, and we talked, among other things, about the role of the Holy Spirit.

What does the Spirit do? I love the way Michael Reeves states it in his book, Delighting in the Trinity:

“Job 26:13 puts it delightfully: “By his breath [or Spirit] the skies became fair. In other words, the Spirit garnishes and beautifies the heavens and the earth. Our first vision of the Spirit, hovering dovelike in Genesis 1, captures something essential. It is that, like a mothering dove settling on her eggs, the Spirit vivifies, bringing what has been created to life.”

The Spirit Beautifies Creation

Look around you. The vast sky above that’s full of more stars than you can count, the ocean depths of wonders that scientists still have not been able to uncover, and the intricate details seen in the tiniest flower. All these creations loudly shout out the wonder, glory, and ever-flowing kindness of God the Father who spoke this world into existence, the Son who upholds it all, and the Spirit who makes every atom burst alive with beauty.

The Spirit Beautifies Me

Just as there was nothing in the vast, dark world that sparked the revolution of creation, there wasn’t any inherent goodness that brought about my new life in Christ. Both works required the work of the triune God. I would still be dead to God if it weren’t for his outrageous grace and mercy that brought me to life in Christ (Ephesians 2).

And just as the Spirit brought me to new life in Christ, he makes me beautiful in him. The one who began this good work in me is the one who will finish it (Philippians 1:6). Where I produce impatience, anger, and complaints, he is working in my heart to grow the delicious fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

“Genuine spiritual progress is rooted in what God has done, is doing, and will do.”

—ESV Study Bible notes on Philippians 1:6

Count the Fruit

After I got home from book study this morning, I listened to a message from a New Hampshire-born friend who was chuckling because I called a 50-degree day warm. She cheered me on in the good work Jesus is doing in my life.

Earlier this week, I told my neighbor that I used to greatly dislike Market Basket (a highly-revered grocery store here in NH) and have grown to love it, rivaling even my long-held adoration for Aldi (gasp). I consider even my grocery store affinity to be a work of God’s grace.

Both of these things are works of the Spirit in my life. They are evidence of fruit that he is producing in me. He worked to make creation beautiful, and now because of the work of Christ, he’s working to make me beautiful.

All I can say is, “Thank you, God.”
And I think that’s the point.

“I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

Revelation 5:13