Daily Devotion, May 19, 2021

 

Devotion:

Read John 15:26 - 16:15.

Previously in John 14, Jesus prepares his disciples for his departure and tells the disciples that he will send the Holy Spirit as Advocate, Helper and Comforter to be with them. 

Now, Jesus continues to prepare his disciples with assurance that he will continue to be with them with the coming of the Holy Spirit. Different versions of scripture translate the word for Holy Spirit as: Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Comforter or Paraclete. Each word can be defined by the “One who comes along beside us” to give strength, encouragement and ability.

 

The Holy Spirit will give witness to the truth of Jesus, who he was, who he came to be for us all, and for all generations. The truth of the Holy Spirit will be consistent with the ways and teachings of Christ the Son and God the Father.

The Holy Spirit empowered the disciples with courage and strength. And today, the Holy Spirit gives courage and strength and calls us together for the sake of helping others. The Holy Spirit opens our eyes to our sins, to our need to seek after righteousness, and to remind us that judgment belongs to God.

Another function of the Holy Spirit is that of the Helper as the Teacher who has more to give from the same source as Jesus. In verse 13, Jesus says, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”

From the beginning the Spirit was called “Ruach” or “Pneuma” meaning the breath of life. Jesus is reminding his disciples that this same Spirit will be with them. The disciples who surrounded Jesus while he was physically present and the community today are connected to God and one another by the Spirit’s work of guiding, leading, revealing, reminding and empowering.

  

And, the Holy Spirit binds our hearts together so that the world may know God’s love.

Personal Worship Option:

Pause for a moment and focus on these words: Life and Breath-Giver; Counselor; Helper; Advocate; Comforter; Paraclete-the one who comes along beside you; Truth Revealer; Witness of Jesus; Gatherer; Encourager; Strengthener; Enabler; and the One who Unites us in God’s Love. Which word of God’s Holy Spirit do you need in your life today? God’s promise revealed through the Living Christ is that the Holy Spirit is with you already.