Monday's Devo - Threshing the Wheat

Read 1 Chron 13
David is wanting to bring back the presence of God, the Ark, to the people. The ark was never used during the days of Saul and now the people are in one accord about bringing it back. I see this happening now. People are getting interested in the Holy Spirit and what he has to give us and the church is getting hungry for him. Timing is everything to God and he is very patient. The ark has been in Kirjathjearim which means "a city of forests". Forests are full of trees which stand for people. The Holy Spirit has been welcome in certain churches and groups of people but mostly he has been tucked away and hidden. He is coming out and being accepted by groups that have ignored him before. This time he is coming in a new cart. It's drivers are Uzza and Ahio which are strength and love. Praise and worship ushered the ark in. Let's pray that we don't do what they did. Uzza (strength) saw the animals stumble at the threshing floor and he put his hand forth to hold the ark. God did not like that at all and God killed Uzza right there. This scared David so much he stopped the whole thing and put the ark in the house of Obededom. So what does that mean to us?
I think it means that when the Holy Spirit is free to move he will convict people of sin (the threshing floor) and it might seem a little out of control. Our nature will be to gain back control when really that is the wrong step. We need to let God settle the storm and gain control if He wants it. Either way we are going to have to trust God.
This reminds me of a story I heard about a man who came to a Christian university and preached repentence. Conviction was so strong that one of the leaders in the student body stood up and confessed that he was homosexual and had struggled with that for years. He wanted to be set free. Then others started flooding to the platform to confess their sins. The Holy Spirit was doing an awesome job of threshing the wheat. But the leaders of the university got nervous about what the students were saying and shut it down. The Holy Spirit left. When the Holy Spirit comes he messes things up. Whoever said he was the perfect gentleman was dead wrong. Yes, he is sensitive and can be gentle but he can also be a mighty wind that destroys everything not of God.
The ark was brought into the family of Obededom who was a Philistine. He and his household was blessed for 3 months. Does this mean that those who are enemies to the church will receive the Holy Spirit and be blessed by it? That's what it looks like to me. You can throw the Holy Spirit out of the church but he WILL go somewhere and bless someone. Why not us?
Holy Spirit, we give you permission to blow through our lives and thresh us.