Good Morning!
In
our world today, there seems to be more and more open hostility toward the
Christian faith than ever before. This
may or may not be true, but it certainly feels that way; it sure seems that at
every turn we are mocked, denounced, attacked, ridiculed, and rejected. It was a few months ago when a young man,
seemingly full of himself like young men can be, told me quite emphatically
that, “I don’t need your God.” Now I am
not sure what he expected; I would guess an argument of some sort; but he
didn’t get one from me that day. I
looked at him and said, “Good for you, I hope that works out for you” and that
was the end of it. I am not sure if he
was disappointed that I didn’t argue or if he thought he had won because I
walked away or if it left him confused but it ended right there. He didn’t need
God so good for him. As for me, I need
God, I rely on God, God is my source for all of my needs. That young man may have believed he had a
better source, but I don’t believe that, so I rely on God.
Our verse is one of those verses that are
really interesting because we don’t really have the right word in English. The word here is “Helper.” In other translations it is “advocate,”
“counselor,” “comforter,” “assistant.” “Intercessor” and the list goes on. The word in Geek is Paraclete or Parakletos. The word really means all of these and even
more. The word roughly means “the one
who walks along beside and guides.” It
very accurately defines what and who the Holy Spirit is in our life. The Holy Spirit is to
lead us to a deeper knowledge of the gospel truth and give us divine strength
needed to enable us to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of the divine
kingdom.
I often
explain life as a journey or a walk.
Because of God’s grace and mercy for me, he gives us the Holy Spirit to
lean on, to look to for guidance and one who gives us a deeper understanding of
our faith. The Holy Spirit is the one
who “reminds us of what Jesus said.” He
reminds us of Jesus’ promises and his words of comfort and hope. I know I need this, and I know many others
who do as well. I know families whose
parents or grandparents are struggling greatly with health issues. Some have children or siblings who are
struggling with different addictions.
Some are struggling with a loss of love from their spouse or other
family. Often, I hear, “I don’t know how
unbelievers make it; I couldn’t do it without God.”
The young
man who I talked to probably only thinks he has things figured out or maybe he
has yet to experience one of those life events which really knock us down. Yet for those of us who need God; He is there
walking with us giving us the love and support that we so desperately
need. He has promised us this.
Gracious Lord, I need you every
hour. I look and listen and often see
and hear only pain and cries of sorrow.
It is only through your Spirit that we can see the hand of comfort that
is yours. Reach out to all who are
hurting or struggling with the effects of a broken world. Hold them close to your heart. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
God’s Peace,
Pastor Bret
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