Friday Devotional - Is It Best Jesus Left?

Jessica is out sick today and still doesn't have power back, so please pray for her! I am posting a devotional in her absence...

Have you ever wished you lived during the time Jesus lived on earth?  Have you ever thought it would be easier to make decisions if you could ask Jesus questions face-to-face rather than having to rely on the Holy Spirit?  I have.  In the following passage, though, Jesus tells His disciples that it’s better to have the Holy Spirit inside of them than for Him to remain on earth with them.  

John 15:26-16:7  ²⁶"When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. ²⁷And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.  ¹"All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. ²They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. ³They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. ⁴I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with you.  ⁵"Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' ⁶Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. ⁷But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

I love how Jesus was so careful to prepare His disciples for His departure (John 13, 14, 15, 16, Acts 1, etc.)!  They certainly didn’t remember it all, even though Jesus waited until right before His death to tell them most of these details. However, as Jesus promised in John 14:26, the Holy Spirit would remind them of everything He taught. 

Jesus also warned the disciples of times of suffering (vs 2).  He was specific, yet promised to provide the Holy Spirit to be with them through it all.  This reminds me to be so thankful for the Holy Spirit!  There will never be a day I need to feel alone because He will always be with me until the day I do join Jesus face-to-face!  

How well do you and I value and use the gift of the Holy Spirit?

Alice