4-26-2016

Good Morning All!! 

     John 14:16; “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another helper who will be with you forever”

   When our sons were much younger and learning to ride their bikes, it was always an interesting time for us.  First, we would start with the training wheels.  We used to watch out the window as they rode and rode around the driveway.  More than once we laughed as they would ride over a low spot in the driveway so that the training wheels were on solid ground but the actual bike wheel was not.  More than once we would watch them pedal like crazy as the wind blew them backwards. 

    Then the fateful day would come.  The training wheels came off.  Each went through the same thing, very excited but scared to death.  So we would get them on the bike and hold it.  Then they would start pedaling and we started walking faster and faster as they went.  Then we would let go and try to run beside them.  We did this to catch them if they fell.  We did this if, all of a sudden, a tree was in their path.  We did this so they would know that we were there to keep them safe.

    Our verse for today tells us the same thing.  This is a those verse which is hard for us to translate.  The word used is “helper”.   Other translations use advocate, comforter, counselor, or assistant among others.  While these are close, they miss the essence of the word.  The word is actually “paraclete.”  About the closest we can get is “the one who goes along side and comes to the aid of.”  So the helper, the Holy Spirit, is the one who helps you learn to ride a bike.  He is there to get you going, to keep you out of trouble and to make you feel safe and secure.

    God sends his Spirit to guide us, protect us and to give us the comfort that God so desires us to have.  It is through the Spirit that we have faith.  So as we face so many struggles in this world, we know with complete certainty that we do not face them alone.  There are many times in our life when, suddenly, things change.  A new marriage or one that crumbles; a spouse that dies; financial ruin; health failures; or any of a myriad of problems can strike.  We may fear them greatly but we can face them with the confidence that the Spirit goes with us.  God grace leads us through.

    Our life is often like that first bike ride.  You may be pedaling and you may have your hands on the handlebars but you have no control over where you are going.  As we ride that life, remember that the Comforter, or advocate or helper; the Paraclete is right there beside you to guard and protect you and, when necessary, pick you up and put you back on the bike so you can ride again.  So with the Spirit at your side; enjoy the ride!

Holy Spirit, you are our helper and our guide.  You come to our aid each time we fall.  Create in us that certainty of hope and that constancy of faith that we may boldly go forth in our life and let others see your grace at work in us.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret