The Holy Spirit
Scripture Reading — John 14:15-31
“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.”
Have you ever thought, “I wish Jesus was physically here right now”? Each Sunday we gather to worship a God we are “in relationship” with even though we can’t see him or touch him. And, to be honest, that’s not always an easy thing to get our minds around.
We pray to God for guidance and direction, or to provide for our needs, and sometimes it can feel like we are talking to empty space. Sometimes we might think faith was easier for the disciples because they could walk and talk and eat with Jesus in person.
On the night before he died, Jesus told his disciples that they were going to receive the Holy Spirit. Depending on what version of the Bible you are reading, the Spirit is called the Advocate, Helper, Counselor, or Comforter. And each title helps to explain who the Spirit is and what the Spirit does.
The Spirit is more than just an abstract concept. He is a person, as fully God as the Father and the Son. The Spirit of God comes to dwell within believers, representing a new level of intimacy between God and his people.
So, in our times of doubt, we can take comfort knowing that no matter what it feels like, God is in fact present with us. In fact, through the Spirit, God has come closer to us than ever before.
Father, make your Spirit known to me. Help me to sense your presence and to hear your voice in my life. Amen.
About the author — A.J. Gretz
Anthony Joseph (A.J.) Gretz is a pastor in Grandville, Michigan. He has also served churches in Ohio and in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He and his wife, Anna, have three children.
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