Incomplete Disciples

September 20

(Acts 19:1-2 NIV) "While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples {2} and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."

(2 Peter 1:3-8 NIV) "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. {4} Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. {5} For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; {6} and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; {7} and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. {8} For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

When Paul arrived at Ephesus, he found some disciples. Someone had taken the good news of Jesus there, and a few had put their faith in the Lord. They had accepted God’s grace and had become followers of Christ, but there was something missing. Paul asked if they had received the Holy Spirit. They replied that they had never even heard of the Holy Spirit. They had been convicted of their sin and turned to God for forgiveness through Christ, but no one had taught them about God’s Holy Spirit. Their faith was not yet complete. There was a page missing from their book. We can be disciples of Jesus and yet be incomplete. Peter encourages us in Chapter One of his second letter to “make every effort” to add to our faith some qualities that come with the Holy Spirit. Look at his list. Ask the Lord to help you complete your faith and to become more like Jesus every day. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day