Comfort, God's Version!

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Comfort, God's Version! 

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 14:26 KJV 

The Context:

Jesus was coming to the end of his earthly ministry. The cross was beckoning; his race was coming to the end and He was about to pay the price for the sin He didn't commit but which was necessary for the redemption of the whole world. He sat down with His disciples and taught them about His Father, Himself and the Holy Spirit. There is this strong connection between the Trinity; they work together, in seemingly different dispensations, but with a unique sense of unity, to promote the Father's will. Jesus kept talking about this one purpose: to do the will of His Father. If the Son can be this focused, even to the point of dying on the cross, can those of us who claim to follow Jesus do the opposite? If we claim we are disciples of Christ, can we live as He did, in full submission to His Father's will? 

So, Jesus takes time out to teach his followers about the things ahead. He prepared them for the tough times ahead. Even though He was leaving them physically, He was going to ask his Father to send the Holy Spirit, who will be a constant reminder of the Presence of God. Just as Jesus clearly stated to his disciples then, so does He say to us now: you will not survive the world without my help. 

The Message:

This becomes even important when you consider that there is nowhere in the Bible that God promises that the Holy Spirit is to keep us from trials and tough times. The help of the Holy Spirit is for those who are able to recognise Him, and allow Him work in them. He is called the Comforter at least thrice in this chapter. He could have been called anything else, but the choice of words is instructive: with God, He is all you need. The world will throw the kitchen sink at you; your allegiance to God makes you an enemy of the devil and he will fight all who are opposed to him. This is where God's comfort comes in handy: you have in God a Father who tells us ahead of time what to expect and how to respond. His Word is the only tool that will guarantee success. As I read the Word, I must trust the One who inspired its contents to make God's will clear to me. 

And it is important to note how this works: you don't get the Holy Spirit by labour, connections or ability. He is a gift from God, and you access Him through Jesus. He is sent by the Father in the name of Jesus. See here again the amazing cooperation of the Trinity. You ignore the reality of the Trinity at your own expense. There is not much anyone can do without the Holy Spirit and man will only sweat and burn out if he tries to achieve by power that which only God can work out. You can't get God's version of comfort from anything that is not of God. You can't get from God that which He does not birth and which he can't sustain. 

And the work of the Holy Spirit is made clear: he takes of that which is God's, and makes it known to those who are God's. If I am not in Him, I am not of Him and cannot take that which is of Him. This is not a matter for strong or smart people, but for followers and disciples of Jesus, no matter their station in life. Do not be deceived by high-sounding words and bluster; his work as a comforter makes it obvious that only those who truly know their need and are certain that He can meet the need will sincerely come seeking Him.

The Response:

And He will be found by all who come looking for Him. That is His promise. Read again: no other conditions are attached, except that the Holy Spirit is sent in the name of Jesus, and there is no limit to what He is able to reveal. When you critically review all that you may have 'achieved', I believe you will be certain that it was not your looks, ability or capacity that gave you all these. For those who know God, there is clarity as to who is responsible for all you may have achieved. When you remember the mighty works of God in your life, you know who to thank. When you consider the mighty things that have happened to you, you know exactly who is responsible for them. There is no guarantee that there will be no pain, but you have a guarantee that you will smile at the end of it all. 

The Comfort God gives is not the type that the world can tamper with or replicate. It is the original version, the type that lasts all through life. You want to know how to navigate through life? You need help with tough questions? You are unsure how to advance and need guidance? No matter the complexities life throws at you, you have a guide who existed long before the problems arose, and who will continue to exist long after this world has come to an end. Trust your life to Him; your eternity will be glad you did. His time of favour is here.