The Love Of The Spirit

A person can, indeed, shut the wind out. One can hide behind walls of willfulness until, in time, the Spirit's breath can no longer be felt. Not because the Spirit is unable to break down our walls of resistance, but because the Spirit won't. No one in heaven or on earth is so respectful of the integrity of human personality as is the Spirit of God. God's Spirit will plead but will not demand. The Spirit is not a bully, but a Lover; and while that love pursues passionately, it will not intrude where it is not wanted; after all, if it did, it would cease to be love.

- J. Ellsworth Kalas in "New Testament Stories from the Back Side"