Do You Need a Hug?

(Acts 10)

Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those listening!

(Acts 10:44)

The Holy Spirit fell upon them.

I could use some of that falling of the Holy Spirit right about now.

What about you?

The falling here occurs near the end of the story so let’s back up to the beginning where we find Cornelius praying . . .

Cornelius is not Jewish.

Not even a little bit.

He’s a Roman soldier.

Yet he prays regularly.

Reading between the lines, we can surmise he’s asking to better know this God he’s praying to.

Because an angel appears to him to let him know God has heard and is answering his prayers.

Cornelius, the angel continues, must send for Peter.

“He shall say to thee what it behooveth thee to do.”

(Acts 10:6)

So Cornelius does.

Right away.

Then he calls together his friends and relatives to wait with him.

When Peter arrives Cornelius nearly explodes with excitement.

“Here we are . . . waiting . . . anxious to hear what the Lord has told you to tell us!”

(Acts 10:33)

With that, Peter begins preaching to a spellbound audience.

And even as he was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those listening!

Even as . . .

Right in the middle of Peter’s sermon.

Listening seems to initiate this falling (epipiptó) of the Spirit.

I picture a blanket settling over them.

Which is close, but not exactly.

Epipiptó literally means to press around or embrace.

More like a hug.

Something else I could use.

I start praying to experience some falling, some epipiptó . . . some Holy Spirit hugging.

I’m disappointed when nothing dramatic happens.

Until I find myself reading some of Jesus’ final words.

The Helper will teach you everything and cause you to remember all I told you.

This Helper is the Holy Spirit.

(John 14:26 NCV)

The Holy Spirit hug isn’t a one-time event.

It’s His constant presence in our lives.

Helping, teaching, reminding . . .

Last week I had a mammogram appointment.

I was feeling upbeat until I encountered the receptionist.

He was prickly.

And short with me.

Instead of recognizing his mood was likely the result of a previous something or someone else and not about me at all, I made it all about me.

It went downhill from there.

I’m not proud of my role in that interaction.

I had to pray for forgiveness.

And a second chance.

I didn’t mean the next day, but I guess God did.

Because I ran into someone else.

Someone who . . .

Well, let’s just say she’s someone who never brightens my day.

Someone I generally try to avoid.

It felt like God kind of threw her across my path.

No escape.

Prayer required.

“I’m going to some need help here!”

I concentrated on channeling my inner Cornelius.

Listening hard.

And even as . . .

Even as I was praying, true to Jesus’ promise, the Holy Spirit reminded me of His words.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

An off-the-pages-of-the-Bible and into-my-right-now-life experience.

An instant softening of my heart for this “neighbor.”

God’s presence, pressed around.