Your 24/7 Companion

Scripture: John 14:26

For the past few days we have been talking about the Holy Spirit that travels life's road with us 24/7 and that He also lives in us. We already know that after Jesus' ascension He took away us "being orphans." But what exactly is the work of the Holy Spirit?

We already know that the Holy Spirit acts in the same way as the ancient practice when  someone of a higher rank stood alongside you to support you, teach you how to behave and even to assist you in court cases. This person was called a paraclete and signifies a comforter, intercessor, helper, advocate and counselor.

In our verse for today the role of our counselor becomes clear, "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of everything I have said to you." John 14:26

Take note of the implication in the second part of the verse: the Holy Spirit will only remind them of what Jesus said to them, in other words what they heard Him say (in our case what we read in the Bible). If we thus do not read the Word regularly to 'hear' what truths Jesus wants to emphasize, what is there for the Holy Spirit to remind us of? He unearths from our memories  the information we have 'heard' or 'read', but very often have forgotten. He then opens it in the conscious part of our minds so that we can remember.  An example is Jesus' disciples who only recalled after He rose from the dead that He was speaking of the temple of His body when He previously said that the temple will be destroyed and that He will raise it in three days. (John 2:22)

Only when remember we can learn from it. In the above mentioned example their lesson was that suddenly they could recall what Jesus said and this enabled them to believe the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken. (John 2:23) The only problem is that we very often do not have the insight and wisdom to understand the full meaning of this remembered information and how to apply it to our lives.  And that is where the Holy Spirit comes to our aid. He strengthens us and ties our faith in the Lord and his Word, He teaches us to convert our new found knowledge into action and to start living as He wants us to. But even better, He teaches and leads us into the whole truth and not into twisted  self interpreted opinions.  He truly is the 24/7 Paraclete - the One called alongside us to help us.

Prayer: Father thank you that I never need to be perplexed or without hope because the Holy Spirit knows  my circumstances, problems, as well as the answers better than myself. Amen