Our scripture this week is John 14:15-21.
“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 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. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 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.”
John 14:15-21
Jesus continues His final instructions to the disciples, describing the coming of the Holy Spirit and the need to keep His commandments. He warns them the world won’t readily accept the Holy Spirit, but that the spirit will live in them. Then He repeats His promise to return for those who love Him.
Jesus knows His disciples (and us) well, and He knows we all will need courage and support for continuing His ministry. We know we can’t do it alone. He encourages us, saying “Because I live, you also will live” (v. 19), that His love and strength will go with us.
The call He places on our lives is not easy, but we are given the necessary gifts. The Holy Spirit is here for us. If we love Jesus, He will live and work in us and we can go to share His love with a world in desperate need of that blessing.
Light of the World, we are not ready for the responsibility You give us, but with Your spirit we are bold to go in Your name. Be with us as we spread the Good News to all Your children. Amen.