Day 6: The Holy Spirit Is Forever With You

In John 14 Jesus is explaining the role that the Holy Spirit will play in the lives of the disciples when He comes. In John 14:16–17, Jesus says:

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another helper... that He may abide with you forever, the Spirit of truth [the Holy Spirit]...” (NKJV)

What Jesus was saying in effect was, “I’ve been with you just for a brief three and a half years. Now in my personal presence I’m going to leave you, I’m going to return to the Father, but, in my place another person will come.”

Jesus emphasizes that this other person, the Holy Spirit, is going to be with us forever.

And then in John 16:7 Jesus goes on in the same theme and he says:

“But I tell you the truth, It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”

You often hear Christians say something like this, “How wonderful it would have been to be on earth in the days when Jesus was personally present with his disciples. How much more we would have learned.” But Jesus says wonderful though that was, it’s much more wonderful now that he is in heaven and the Holy Spirit is on earth. He says it’s to your advantage; it’s in your best interest.

Reflect: The Holy Spirit is with you NOW. How do you respond?