God’s Helper
I’ve often thought about my early days, those “Sunday School” sessions where I first learned about Jesus Christ. My recollection is that I was in awe of this very special human, this son of God. I don’t recall any particular lessons which were taught, it was more of a story learning experience. I do recall wondering, even at that very innocent age, what it would be like to be a child of God, to have a special purpose in God’s plan?Those musings ultimately became displaced by the simple childhood joys of existence. Later as a young adult, I was victimized by misdirected religion and I church shopped for many years to find a place where the Word of God might speak to me directly again. I’d read through the bible as a young man, but most of it seemed like a documentary. There was one pastor, who spoke gently and directly to me every time he talked to his congregation, or so it seemed at the time but he soon retired and I was left to shop again. So it was many years and a lifetime of experiences later before I undertook that challenge of reading the Word of God again. The results were incredibly different this time because in life, I’d learned to trust in and let God teach me first about himself and then eventually about me. “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 that I have said to you.” (John 14:26 ESV).
We have all had trusted or favorite teachers in life. Those special people who seem to have a direct connection into our thoughts. They are able to convey complex subjects in a simple, easy to digest formula perfectly suited to our learning styles. The Holy Spirit is the epitome of such teachers. This Helper, is as personal as God gets to us in this life. The Holy Spirit, once sought, lives with us constantly. The catch is that most of us are uncomfortable with a relationship this close, this intimate, this incredibly personal and constant. Church for some is a more comfortable, distant, less threatening experience. This might help. God’s Holy Spirit already knows us better than we know ourselves. Our weaknesses and sinful nature are taken somewhat for granted, however our desire to change gets us a front row seat for this Helper’s lessons. Church alone just won’t cut it. If we want to both know and grow closer to God, we need the Helper whom He’s offered to us. God’s Helper can and will explain His Word to us and apply His wisdom specifically to our lives.
JC Calkins with COMMON SENSE 4 UNCOMMON PEOPLE (share today)
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