Psalm 51:10-12 English Standard Version

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

This is a prayer of cooperation. It indicates a desire to be right and do right in order to maintain a good and healthy relationship with God. That is noted in verse 11 with a plea to remain in His presence.

As those of us who have joined the family of God and accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior it is now a matter of understanding the role and responsibilities of the Holy Spirit in us. Since it is His responsibility to prepare us for our betrothed, Jesus Christ.Llet us understand He only acts on our behalf to lead us to that end.

What if we were to rewrite cooperation as co-operation? The operation of our bodies, our lives happens on two levels, the spiritual and the physical. When our physical operations based on self-interest are at odds with the goals of the Holy Spirit in preparing us for Jesus, the Holy Spirit does not support our activities. This is a matter of free will since Jesus does not force Himself on anyone. Love is a choice and always will be a choice.

When our physical operations are in line with the goals of the Holy Spirit He helps us to achieve those ends, walking the right paths and making the right choices. We become better helpmates for Christ when our goals align.

What that looks like in us is based on the love concept. The more we love someone the more willing we are to listen, agree, and work at achieving the same goals. We differ in many aspects as we have noted before, but all of us are moving in one direction and the same goal, to be with our Lord in the eternal realm.

Because we have different gifts, talents and callings there is a tendency on our part to look at the activities of others and compare ourselves to them. That is no measure of God’s love for us or our love for Him. That is a physical perspective and not a spiritual one.

2 Corinthians 10:12

Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

Understanding can be both physical and spiritual. A physical impairment can alter one’s ability to hold a rational thought but does not render the heart incapable of knowing what is right.

Listen to the opening prayer and allow the renewal that God controls and not we ourselves.

Revelation 21:2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

We are His betrothed and we are being prepared for Him. As with all good relationships it is a matter of communication and cooperation. How can we listen to Him without faith?

Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Galatians 3:2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?

We cannot speak to the active agent in our lives without reminding ourselves why He is with us.

The active agent for God the Father and Jesus Christ is the Third Person of God, the Holy Spirit. We would do well to remember that as they are one, He is God in us.

As God in oneness, He knows the Father’s plan, knows the Father’s will and will only testify of those things in Christ that are meant to prepare us for that day when we will be with our betrothed for the wedding. When that will be is only known to the Father.

Until then we have the Holy Spirit who will communicate to us all that Jesus Christ said with perfect clarity based on our willingness to cooperate. Jesus does not force Himself on anyone.

Romans 12:3

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Receive this Word with humility and sober judgment, your understanding of exactly what measure of faith means for you is personal based on your cooperation, gifts and roles in the body of Christ. Do not insist on being right as each of us has to act according to our personal relationship with Christ.

Romans 12:4-5 English Standard Version

4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Receive this Word with humility and sober judgment, wounding another member of the body of Christ wounds yourself. That is what it means to be One. In human terms we call it self-inflicted wounds. My pastor put it to me this way, “You keep shooting yourself in the foot.” Now if that doesn’t hinder your walk of faith I don’t know what does.