Full of the Holy Spirit

As I continued to reflect on chapters 1-4 of Luke, a phrase caught my attention.  This phrase is used to describe nearly every main character in these chapters.  And, directly after this phrase is used, God is glorified and magnified by the character in a unique and inspiring way.

• It is said of Mary, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you..." (1:35)
• It is said of Elizabeth, "Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit." (1:41)
• It is said of Zechariah, "And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit." (1:67)
• It is said of Simeon, "and the Holy Spirit was upon him." (2:25)
• It is said of Jesus at the time of his baptism, "The Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form, like a dove." (3:21)
• "And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit." (4:1)
• "Jesus returned in the power of the Holy Spirit to Galilee." (4:14)

The Westminster Confession of Faith asks this:

Q: What is the chief end of man?

A: The chief end of man is to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever.

If the purpose of our existence is to glorify God, and Luke 1-4 shows that the precursor to glorifying Him is to be filled with the Holy Spirit, it seems that this is a precursor for us as well.  In order to glorify God with our lives, we must be full of the Holy Spirit.

The third person of the Trinity, namely the Holy Spirit, is the one who makes the Christian life possible.  Our goal as Christians, in glorifying God and enjoying Him forever, is to allow the perfect life Jesus lived on earth to flow through us so He can live our lives perfectly through Him.  

How?  By allowing the Holy Spirit to come upon us, and being filled with Him.

I seek to yield myself to the working of the Holy Spirit, for His glory.  Let us be such women, for His glory!