THE HOLY SPIRIT is the life of God, given to us.
Have you ever had your world shaken when someone left your life? Maybe that person suddenly died, turned away from you, moved away, or divorced you and left you lonely.
Eleven sad disciples felt that way when Jesus told them He was leaving, and challenged them to remain in Him and in His love, even as they remained in a super-hostile world. Jesus didn’t promise His followers thorn-less roses, but He did promise to send help.
Question: “And tell us again just why would You abandon us and leave us in such a situation? We thought we’d be ruling the world with You from Jerusalem by now. Lord, how are we going to tell the world the good news about Your life and Your love if the world hates us?”
Answer: “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth…he will testify about me….It is better for you that I go away, because if I do not go, the Helper will not come to you. But if I do go away, then I will send him to you” (John 15:26, niv; John 16:7, gnt).
Question: “Yes, Lord, but…just how will this Helper You speak of help us down here in the middle of the battle?”
Answer: “He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you” (John 16:14).
Just as blood brings life-giving oxygen to various parts of our bodies, the Helper, the Holy Spirit, brings the words and life of God to our being. Earlier, Jesus said it this way: “Men can only reproduce human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven” (John 3:6, tlb).
Christ-followers have a Helper in a hostile world. The Helper brings a timely word and the precious life of God from heaven to us.
Life challenge: Ask the Helper to bring you new life from heaven today.
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