To Know And Remember

But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative--that is, the Holy Spirit--he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. (John 14:26)

Some of us are blessed to have appointment books, calendars, family members, or friends who help us stay on track with important data. Others of us rely on electronic resources that sound a tone or present a list of what we are scheduled to do during a given day. In our faith tradition, though, we know of a perfect Reminder: not an external system, but the person of the Holy Spirit working within us.

In John 14:26 we read that the Holy Spirit teaches and reminds. What a blessing! In a world of conflicting opinions, we need to be immersed in God’s instruction. In the face of distractions and challenges, we need God’s word reinforced in our hearts every day. If there are areas of our lives where we really don’t know what God’s perspective is, we can ask Him-- and He will reveal it to us by His Spirit.

Yes, Lord, we need You to teach us and to remind us of everything You have said. Send Your Spirit, in full measure: give us the grace to understand and obey Your word.

Make Space. Embrace.

Today, let’s consider another thought Pastor Richard shared in this past Sunday’s sermon (paraphrased here): We are called to keep our focus not on the principles, but on the Paraclete. Our Christian journey is not about us doing our best, but rather about our making space for God to manifest His perfect work in and through us.

As I’ve reflected on this, I’ve been asking myself: “Who, or what, am I focused on?” And I’ve been thinking of Simon Peter, who once asked Jesus to command him to walk on the water. I’ve contemplated the water-walking miracle before, but today I’d like us to contemplate Simon Peter’s moment of amazing insight before he got out of the boat.

Peter said to him, “Lord, if it is you, order me to come to you on the water.” (Matthew 14:28, New English Translation)

“Lord...” – Peter made his address not to Jesus’s position as his Teacher, but to Jesus’s authority as Lord.

“…order me to come to you on the water.” – Peter understood that he had an opportunity to engage an act of obedience that would produce something miraculous.

Now, we might not need to walk on water in a literal sense, but Pastor Richard noted that there are other things we might need today (that are equally miraculous). We might need God’s help to reject old habits and deep-seated character traits that run counter to the will of God. We might need to courageously step into the purpose for which God created us.

Here’s my own take-away: I need to take the leap of faith necessary to move from the “default setting” of knowing Jesus as my teacher, and instead learn to see Him first and foremost as my Lord. If my focus is there, then I will not have a problem when He commands me to do things that are seemingly impossible. I know that if the Lord is present, then He will make sure I don’t “drown” in my attempts to obey His commands.

Some years ago there was a song I learned. It began with the line, “The Spirit of the Lord is great and mighty.”** Yes. Jesus has made His Spirit available to us, and has given us the promise that we too can engage greater works (see John14:12). How I pray that we in the church, who embrace the work of His Spirit, will go the next step and embrace the work of His Spirit in and through us. It’s not just a call for the pastors and leaders: it’s for everyone who has chosen to walk this Christian journey.

A quotation and a question for today:

“Many people have not even stepped into their purpose yet, and they are on the way out.” (Rev. Richard Griffiths)

In considering this quote from our pastor, can you say with confidence that you are exactly where the Lord wants you to be, and that you are doing exactly what His Spirit has commanded you to do?

**From "The Spirit of the Lord" by Billy Funk. Copyright (c) 1992, Integrity's Hosanna! Music.