The Holy Spirit, Our Helper

Daily Reading: John 15

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: The Holy Spirit, our Helper...

·       Is sent by the Son.  Jesus knew that he was going away, but he wanted to assure his friends that he would be with them, through the Holy Spirit.

·       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.  There are many false spirits and false prophets, but the Holy Spirit is true.

·       Proceeds from the Father.  God is one.  The Spirit is not separate from the Father but proceeds from the Father.  As he brings the presence of Jesus into our world, he also is the permeating, infilling presence of the Father as well.  Think of the light that comes from the sun.  It is not separate from the sun but proceeds from the sun to bring the light of the sun to every place it shines.  When the sun is blocked, so is the light, for the light depends on the sun.

·       Bears witness about Jesus.  The Spirit is not the focus of his own teaching.  The Spirit does the work of Jesus on Jesus' behalf.  He brings the Truth of Jesus on Jesus' behalf.

·       Makes us witnesses.  After the resurrection, Jesus told his disciples, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses" (Acts 1.8).  Those who have been with Jesus are called to bear witness to what they have seen and heard.  The Spirit, however, is the power that makes their witness effective.

Come, Holy Spirit!

Prayer: Father, I need your Spirit to help me.  Fill me with your Spirit that I might serve you faithfully and bear witness to your Son in whose name I pray.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 38.9-16

9 O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you.

10 My heart throbs; my strength fails me, and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.

11 My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, and my nearest kin stand far off.

12 Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek my hurt speak of ruin and meditate treachery all day long.

13 But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear, like a mute man who does not open his mouth.

14 I have become like a man who does not hear, and in whose mouth are no rebukes.

15 But for you, O Lord, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.

16 For I said, “Only let them not rejoice over me, who boast against me when my foot slips! ”