Slices
Prepare
It is 2,000 years since God poured out his Spirit at Pentecost. Give thanks for the unbroken line of believers since then, including those who have helped you grow in faith.
Bible passage
Jesus promises the Holy Spirit
15 ‘If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you for ever – 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me any more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realise that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.’
22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, ‘But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?’
23 Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
25 ‘All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, 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. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Explore
I can understand why the disciples were fearful. They didn’t understand but they knew something was happening and it troubled them (13:37; 14:5,8). Can you relate to that vague sense of unease?
Jesus doesn’t promise them everything will be all right. How often have you heard that phrase on TV shows, films, perhaps even your own lips? But it’s a lie: ‘everything’ will not be all right. Thankfully, though, God does not leave us alone in the struggle. Jesus promises the Father ‘will give you another … to help you and be with you for ever’ (v 16): ‘the Advocate, the Holy Spirit’ (v 26).
He is the ‘Spirit of truth’ (v 17) who will teach us (v 26). We can know something of God’s power and majesty from creation, but to know him we need divine help. What is the Spirit teaching you today?
He brings the life of Jesus, full of love and obedience. Look back over these verses and see how many times Jesus links them. Do you need the Spirit to help you grow in love or obedience, or both?
Respond
Verse 27 is a precious verse. Perhaps you feel at peace today; perhaps you feel troubled, anything but peaceful. As you pray, ask God to go on filling you with his peace, to chase away all fear with his perfect love.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: 1 Kings 16,17; Psalms 58,59
Pray for Scripture Union
Praise God that, through Jonathan and the Forest of Dean churches he works with, young Christians are growing in faith and children whose families have no church connections are learning about Jesus. (This week's prayers relate to this article)
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