S224P9 – At work within us: the Holy Spirit
Jn. 14:25-26
These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
His first semester in college was going a lot better than expected. It was not that he thought school would be a disaster, but he experienced none of the growing pains he anticipated with this transition. Classes were going well, he had made friends quickly, and his swimming was getting better with every practice. Second semester, however, brought some difficulty, and he started to wonder whether he had what it takes to cut it in that environment. All of a sudden, stress and anxiety became commonplace for him as he felt expectations coming at him from all directions. It would take a chat with Dad for him to be reminded of his potential, to regain his confidence in his talents and abilities.
The Holy Spirit is God’s still, small voice within us. We will encounter challenges in life that make us quick to forget what we know is true of God and of ourselves because of God. Those circumstances turn our courage to fear, our confidence to doubt, and our power to weakness. In such times, the Holy Spirit acts within us to remind us of the truths we have learned from our Savior. Not only does He give us reminders, but He even teaches us the things we have yet to understand. He shows us all things. He shows us the word and then illuminates it so that it can do its proper work in us. The Holy Spirit is the One who plants, waters, and grows the seed of the word in you and me.
There are many things about God that leave me in awe daily. One item of particular amazement for me is the fact that each person of God has specific functions in us, but their work is also intertwined. The Father gave the Son every word He spoke. The Son taught us with those words. The Spirit reminds us of those words and teaches us their complete meaning. This revelation of scripture should be happening whenever we pour over the word or mediate on it. That is when we know we have allowed the Spirit to do his good work in us. Father, thank You for sending your Spirit to remind us, refresh us, and teach us all things.