10 day plan

Big truths for hearts young and old

Day 6 of 10

NIV

John 14:16-17

16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17the 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.

Reflection:  Further reading: Romans 5:5

Jesus is always with us. As my children get older (my eldest is still only seven!), I am realising that I will not always be with them. Of course, this is something I knew would happen, but the reality of their growing independence is sobering. I realise there are moments when they will feel alone and unsure without me to guide them, and this makes it so important to teach them that Jesus is always with them, even when I (or their Dad) is not. As we were reading their children’s Bible the other night, my older two were discussing how great it would be if Jesus could be with us in person. Hugs are very important to my kids, and they were reflecting on how nice it would be to have a cuddle with Jesus. So, we took a moment to talk about how God sent us the Holy Spirit, to live with us, in our hearts. If Jesus was still on earth as a person, he could only be in one place at one time with one group of people, I explained to them. When he went back up to heaven, though, God sent his Holy Spirit. God the Holy Spirit lives in the hearts of everyone who follows Jesus, all the time, all over the world. He is with us so we can know how much God loves us; he will bring to our minds all the things Jesus said and did and taught, so we will know the right thing to do (John 14:26; 16:13). And when we need to talk to God, the Holy Spirit will give us the words we need (Romans 8:26-27).

Question: Do you long for a hug from Jesus? How has the Holy Spirit’s presence in your life encouraged you (or how might you pray to be more encouraged)?

Prayer:  Dear God, thank you so much for the gift of your Holy Spirit. Thank you for pouring your love into my heart by his presence. Day by day, please fill me with your Holy Spirit anew, so that I may see Jesus more clearly, draw closer to him, and be transformed to be more like him. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.

Days

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John 14:1-31

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Jesus the Way to the Father

5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

8Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

9Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

15“If you love me, keep my commands. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17the 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. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21Whoever 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.”

22Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”

23Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

25“All this I have spoken while still with you. 26But 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. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

28“You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.

“Come now; let us leave.

The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.