Holy Spirit, Be My Guide

Daily Reading: John 15

Scripture Focus: 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: In John 15, Jesus taught his disciples (and us) about the Holy Spirit, whom he referred to as our Comforter, our Advocate, our Helper, or our Counselor.  The word Jesus used here is literally “one who stands alongside.”  In describing this Counselor in John 14, Jesus said that the Spirit was “another” like Jesus in counsel.

Jesus said he was going to send the Counselor to us from the Father.  We see in this passage the foundation of the Trinity.  God is one in three: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Jesus sends the Spirit who “goes out from the Father.”  The Father, Jesus, and the Spirit are all “persons” – distinct from one another, yet they are not three distinct gods.  God is One, and when we deal with God we are dealing with him as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  These three persons of the one God do not have three different sets of priorities and values.  They are united in purpose.  We need not feel pressure to serve God in three different ways.

The Spirit whom Jesus sends is the Spirit of truth.  He will not lead us astray.  He will faithfully reveal God’s will and wisdom to the seeking heart.  He represents God perfectly to us.  The Spirit will never lead us in a way that is contrary to the Word, which is the Son of God.  As a matter of fact, the Spirit will testify about Jesus!  He will teach us all the things we need to know.  As we allow the Spirit to teach us, we learn about Jesus!

And finally, when we learn about Jesus, then we can testify about Jesus.  We must testify, for we have been with Jesus.

Prayer: "Holy Spirit be my Guide.  Holy Spirit, my heart's open wide.  Help me to know thy will divine.  Holy Spirit, be Thou mine." Amen. (Mildred Cope)

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 37.7-15

7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!

8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.

9 For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.

10 In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.

11 But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.

12 The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him,

13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming.

14 The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright;

15 their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.