Daily Reading: John 15
But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning. (John 15.26-27)
Devotional Thought: I can picture Jesus making his way to Gethsemane through olive groves and vineyards. As he went, he used the natural surroundings to instruct his disciples about remaining in him, just as a branch must remain in the vine. Jesus taught his disciples that as they remained (abided) in him, they would be nourished and nurtured by the Holy Spirit. He would be their Helper.
The Holy Spirit is our Helper today:
· He is the Spirit of truth. The Spirit will never contradict the Word of God. The Spirit will not take you where the Son wouldn’t go.
· He is sent by the Son. Knowing that he was going away, Jesus assured his friends that he would still be with them. He would be in a different “form”, but it would be him nonetheless.
· He proceeds from the Father. As the Spirit brings the presence of Jesus into our world, he also is the permeating, infilling presence of the Father as well. Just as the light that comes from the sun is not separate from the sun, so the Spirit is not separate from the Father.
· He bears witness about Jesus. The Spirit is not the focus of his own teaching. The Spirit does the work of Jesus on his behalf. He brings the Truth of Jesus on his behalf. True Spirit-inspired worship always focuses on Jesus!
· He helps us in our witness for Jesus. Later, after the resurrection, Jesus would tell his disciples, “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1.8). As we spend time with Jesus and are filled with the Spirit, we are given power to bear witness to him.
Come, Holy Spirit!
Prayer: "Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me! Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me! Melt me. Mold me. Fill me. Use me. Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me!"
Psalm of the Day: 37.16-24
16 Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.
18 The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever;
19 they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have abundance.
20 But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the LORD are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish--like smoke they vanish away.
21 The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives;
22 for those blessed by the LORD shall inherit the land, but those cursed by him shall be cut off.
23 The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way;
24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.
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