Scripture: John 3:8 (ESV) – “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
John Calvin, in his Commentary on the Gospel of John, highlights the profound analogy Jesus uses to describe the work of the Holy Spirit. By comparing the Spirit to the wind, Jesus emphasizes both its mysterious nature and its undeniable effect. The Spirit’s work, like the wind, is beyond human control or comprehension, yet its presence and power are unmistakable.
Calvin points out that the unpredictability of the wind reflects the sovereignty of the Spirit. Just as the wind moves freely according to its own will, so does the Spirit bring new life to whomever God chooses. This underscores that salvation is entirely a work of God’s grace, not dependent on human effort or understanding.
Additionally, Calvin emphasizes the visible evidence of the Spirit’s work. Though the wind is invisible, its effects—rustling leaves or bending trees—are clear. Similarly, the Spirit’s work in a believer’s life produces visible transformation: a renewed heart, new desires, and a life oriented toward God. This challenges us to examine whether our lives bear the fruit of the Spirit’s transforming power.
For us, this verse invites both humility and assurance. It calls us to trust in the sovereignty of God’s Spirit, even when we do not fully understand His ways, and to rejoice in the evidence of His work in our lives and the lives of others.
Reflection Questions:
- How does the analogy of the wind help you better understand the work of the Holy Spirit?
- Are there ways you resist trusting in the Spirit’s sovereignty because you don’t fully understand His movements?
- How can you recognize and cultivate the evidence of the Spirit’s transforming power in your life?
Prayer:
Lord God, thank You for the work of the Holy Spirit, moving in ways we cannot fully comprehend but whose effects we clearly see. Teach us to trust in Your Spirit’s sovereignty and to submit to Your transforming power. Help us to live lives that reflect the evidence of Your work, bearing fruit that glorifies You. Strengthen our faith in the unseen but undeniable presence of Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
This devotional is based on John Calvin’s commentary on John 3:8, focusing on the mysterious yet powerful work of the Holy Spirit.
Covenant Presbyterian Church 