Holy Spirit, Ever Dwelling, ELW 582, verse 3
Devotion
1Holy Spirit, ever dwelling
in the holiest realms of light;
Holy Spirit, ever brooding
o'er a world of gloom and night;
Holy Spirit, ever raising
those of earth to thrones on high;
living, life-imparting Spirit,
you we praise and magnify.
2Holy Spirit, ever living
as the church's very life;
Holy Spirit, ever striving
through us in a ceaseless strife;
Holy Spirit, ever forming
in the church the mind of Christ:
you we praise with endless worship
for your gifts and fruits unpriced.
3Holy Spirit, ever working
through the church's ministry;
quick'ning, strength'ning, and absolving,
setting captive sinners free;
Holy Spirit, ever binding
age to age and soul to soul
in communion never ending,
you we worship and extol.
The church's notion of "ministry" stems from the Greek word diakoneo, which simply means "to serve." So when we talk about the church's ministry—as does the third verse of today's hymn—we're talking about how the church serves: serves God, serves our neighbors and serves the world. The Holy Spirit, through the church's ministry, quickens us, strengthens us, absolves us, and sets us free! Are we then free to do whatever we want? Well, not exactly. We are set free from our sin, from our brokenness, in order that we might serve those who need serving, be it the widow, the orphan, the foreigner, the outcast, the sick, the dying—and the list goes on.
We serve out of an attitude of abundance because God has been abundant with us. In hope, forgiveness and love we are set free to do whatever God calls us to. What a world it would be if each of us woke up in the morning and clothed ourselves in such an attitude of abundance.
Prayer
Almighty God, you call us to serve in your name. Put on our hearts a call to service, that we may serve those in need with compassionate and loving hearts. In Jesus' name. Amen.