John 14:15-17 | Eternal Helper
In John 14:15-17 ESV, Jesus says, “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.”
All the most significant aspects of our faith come to us as gifts from God. The journey of abiding daily is about learning to recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit in every area of our lives.
Ironically, I find that the more I strive to gain ground through religious works, the harder it becomes to have an open heart before God. While we know this, I see that it is easy to overlook this reality. The contrast between religion and relationship has become so prevalent in the teaching of the modern church that we might assume an understanding of the teaching is the same as its application.
A hypocrite is someone who acts in contradiction to their outspoken values. Since humans have a unique ability to say one thing and do another, we are all on a journey of overcoming our hypocrisy.
Perhaps this comes back to our desire for greatness. It’s much easier to cast a vision for our future than to actually walk it out. God created us with incredible imaginations, so we will always have the ability to envision a life or standard beyond our current state.
Yet we serve a God who always keeps his promises. His claims are sure to come to pass. His purposes will be accomplished.
Here we are at the intersection of our will to grow and God’s ability to keep his promises. Jesus laid out a clear path to growth. One where his faithfulness compels us to obey his commandments and where his love causes us to grow in love.
All of this is wonderful enough as it is, but God’s gift of his Holy Spirit to well with us and be in us is the glue that holds out faith together. I know that the appeal of religion, striving, and self-sufficiency will always tempt believers away from being grateful recipients. Today I want to invite you to see the goodness and generosity of God. We have an eternal helper to walk with us as we learn to love God and keep his commandments. Thank you, God!
Abiding happens daily in his presence. Abiding Daily is a simple and practical reminder to stay connected to the vine. Each prompt is inspired from the scriptures and designed to point you toward prayer and encounter. You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To get the Daily Invitation sent to you every day click this link or text “Daily” to +1 (779) 237-3914.
