This Week’s Memory Verse…
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
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| The Holy Spirit...as a dove. |
It is important to look at the verse in
context. Here Jesus was speaking to His disciples after they had eaten His last
meal with them…the Last Supper.
Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other
disciple with that name) said to him, "Lord, why are you going to reveal
yourself only to us and not to the world at large?" Jesus replied,
"All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will
come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn't love me will not
obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from
the Father who sent me. I am telling you these things now while I am still with
you. 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. I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And
the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or
afraid. Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you
again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the
Father, who is greater than I am. I have told you these things before they
happen so that when they do happen, you will believe. John 14:22-29
Jesus was giving them details about the
Holy Spirit that He had not given them before…but He was still stressing the
importance of obedience to His commandments. Note that He told them that the
Holy Spirit was with them now…and would be in them in the future. For each of
us, as we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell…live
in us, just as Jesus promised His disciples after their Last Supper.
If you love me, obey my commandments. And I
will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never
leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot
receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But
you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. John
14:15-17
Obedience to God’s word is the key. What
does that mean to you…to me? For me it means just what Jesus said…obey…keep His
commandments. He made it straightforward
and specific when He was asked earlier in His ministry about which commandment
was greatest.
Jesus replied, "'You must love the LORD
your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the
first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your
neighbor as yourself.' The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are
based on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37-40
All of the Ten Commandments are summarized
in these two directives. Love God. Love your neighbor. If we live by those…we
will live eternally with the triune God: Jesus Christ…our Savior, God the
Father and God the Holy Spirit. Love God…Love your neighbor. Simple concept.
Can we do it? Can we obey those commandments that Jesus expects of us? Only
with the help of Christ and the Holy Spirit.
For I can do everything through Christ, who
gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
The result that Jesus mentioned to His
disciples was…peace. What a great reward for obedience. Not just peace at
Christmas time…but peace in our hearts every day. Beginning now. Peace to you.
Prayer
~ Lord God, I pray that from Your glorious, unlimited resources You will
empower me, my family, friends and everyone reading this, with inner strength
through Your Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in each of our hearts as we
trust in Him. Our roots will grow down into Your love and keep us strong. And
may we have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how
long, how high, and how deep Your love is. May each of us experience the love
of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then we will be made
complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all
glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to
accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to Him in the
church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. From
Ephesians 3:16-21
Daily
Bible Reading: Song of Solomon
© 2019 Text and
painting by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All
scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.
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