RECEIVE THE SPIRIT
"But when the Father sends the Advocate as My representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you."
John 14:26 (NLT)
When I first became a believer, I voraciously consumed the Word of God. Not a brag, it mostly was a function of having few friends in childhood that weren't books. Something I noticed early on in the gospels is that when Jesus would say, "You've heard it said," and then quote Scripture, everyone actually seemed to know exactly what He was talking about. I later learned about the priority of Scripture memorization in the Ancient Near East. But at that time, I just feared I'd never be able to remember all the things Jesus had to say. But over time, I realized I wasn't on this journey alone. The Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promised to His followers, was there to guide me.
John 14:26 powerfully reminds us of the role the Holy Spirit plays in our lives. Jesus, knowing that His disciples would face challenges and uncertainties, assured them that the Holy Spirit would come as their Advocate—someone who would teach them, guide them and remind them of all He had taught. This promise isn't just for the disciples; it's for all believers. That means you and me, here and now!
The Holy Spirit is our constant companion, helping us to understand God's Word and apply it to our lives. We talk so much about the Father and the Son that we can sometimes overlook the presence of the Spirit (Francis Chan wrote a book about this in 2009 called Forgotten God). When we face difficult decisions, the Spirit gives us wisdom. When we struggle to remember what Jesus taught, the Spirit brings those truths to mind. This divine guidance is a gift, ensuring we are never alone or without direction.
APPLICATION: Take a moment today to acknowledge the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life. Pray and ask the Spirit to guide you in understanding God's Word and to remind you of Jesus' teachings in your daily life. If you're facing a challenge or decision, seek the Spirit's wisdom and trust in His guidance. We're so quick to run to friends, family or strangers on the internet for guidance. Let's start with our Creator!
PRAYER: God, help me never to forget that You are with me through Your Holy Spirit. I pray that You would make me sensitive to the Spirit's direction. Help me to come to You first in my struggles. In Jesus' name, amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?