Devotion - Monday May 25 - Jesus Promises The Helper

Text: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. - John 14:15-20

Devotion: As we approach the celebration of Pentecost, let us ponder the importance of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Ask a Christian, “Who is God the Father?” Most will not hesitate to answer. Ask, “Describe God the Son and His importance” and again you will get an answer. Ask a believer, “Describe God the Holy Spirit” and followers are less certain and confident. The Holy Spirit is not a force or a vague entity but the third person of the Trinity. Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as “Him”.  He posses intellect, emotions and power.  Just as a stool needs three legs to stand or a tripod need three legs to work properly we need all three persons of the Trinity. We don’t want to settle for 2/3rds of the fullness of God.  

Today consider John 14:15-20.  Jesus was talking to his disciples at the Last Supper.  He had many important things that he wanted to share with his disciples before his crucifixion but perhaps the most important was that he was not leaving them alone.  “And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever …”

Read the passage and consider the following questions

• Who do you think of when you think of a helper? Why?
• Why is the world uncomfortable with the idea of the Holy Spirit according to this passage?
• Where does the Holy Spirit dwell?

Galatians 3:3 NLT says
“After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own flesh”

• In what areas of your life are you striving to become perfect in your flesh without relying on the Holy Spirit, your helper? Acknowledge your total dependence on God to help you.