The Holy Spirit: God Among UsSample

Look around and you’ll see it everywhere. People are divided, picking sides and staying in their groups. At school, online, in politics, even in families, it feels like everyone is divided by something. But the Bible calls us to do something completely opposite. The Holy Spirit doesn’t just break down walls; he uses our differences to build something incredible.

The Bible says it this way: “[You] are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house … where God lives by his Spirit” (Ephesians 2:19-22, NLT).

Through the Holy Spirit, every type of person is woven into God’s family. You’ll find people with different backgrounds, races, cultures, personalities, and financial situations all brought together by the Holy Spirit. This is not a group where everyone looks, thinks, or lives the same. It’s a place where being different is celebrated, and every story, skill, and perspective brings value to the whole community. God’s design is for us to live as members of a family that not only accept one another but also hold each other to account to a higher standard. It’s a place where the sick are healed and the Holy Spirit transforms lives. We aren’t supposed to stay the way we are when we become Christians. Believers are called to lovingly hold each other accountable as we grow more like Christ. We are all unified in our need for a savior.

When the world sees Christians from totally different backgrounds genuinely loving each other, it stops them in their tracks. Through the Holy Spirit’s work, your youth group becomes a living example of God’s love. Your church becomes proof that Jesus can bring people together in a way nothing else can. The world can see him through the way we love one another.

Reflection and Prayer

Take a moment to think about the people in your life who are different from you—maybe in background, personality, or culture. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you appreciate those differences and see how each person adds something special to God’s family. How can you lean into, learn from, or encourage someone who is different from you?

God, thank you for creating such a diverse family and for making me a part of it. Help me see the beauty in our differences and embrace the ways you use every story to show your love. Teach me to include others, encourage transformation, celebrate what makes us unique, and build real unity through your Spirit. Amen.