DAILY DEVOTION, July 19, 2021

I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, who will stay with you forever (John 14:16, GNT).

Jesus speaks with His disciples. They are afraid because He is planning to leave them. The day is soon coming when they will no longer see Jesus in the flesh. How can they be faithful to carry on His mission when He is absent? Jesus reassures them by promising another Helper (comforter, advocate) to be given to them. He speaks of the Holy Spirit, who will stay with them forever.

We are also recipients of that promise (see Acts 2:38-39). Those who believe in Jesus receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and He will never leave us. As we learn to live trusting in the presence of the Holy Spirit to guide us, we begin to walk increasingly in the paths of righteousness. Fear tends to dissipate. Love fills our hearts. We find a new desire to live as faithful disciples of Jesus.

What does it mean that this Helper is “another?” It means that the Holy Spirit is just like Jesus. He is another of the same quality. This is one of the verses that prompted the church to affirm that God is a Trinity, One God in three persons. In our verse, we encounter the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is given to be our Helper. Are you relying on His help?

Father, I thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit. I need lots of help in trying to follow Jesus! I thank You the help that has been given. I pray for wisdom to understand more clearly what it means to walk in the Spirit. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.