Tag: This Is the Way; Walk in It

Ours was a long-distance courtship. As Peggy was completing her studies in East Lansing, Michigan, I was advancing my career in central Ohio, so our time together was constrained to weekends spread four to six weeks apart. How we bemoaned those Sunday afternoon goodbyes! Yet this was our reality while Peggy finished school, so we consoled ourselves in that it was good to part for a season in order to enjoy each other’s presence for a lifetime.

Comforting His closest of friends on the eve of His departure, Jesus raised their gaze above the pain of the moment to the blessings certain to follow, “I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper [Holy Spirit] will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”¹ As long as Jesus was on the earth, He could only minister in one place at a time, but now His Spirit would be everywhere all the time, and while the Son of God came to be with us for a season, the Spirit of God would abide in us forever. The outpouring and indwelling of Spirit is a gift of grace, lavished upon all who ask for Him in faith.² But to what end?

As “the Spirit of truth,”³ He guides us into what is true, speaking not on His own, but only what He hears from Jesus, the Son.⁴ He speaks candidly about our sin, not to condemn us in our sin, but to turn us away from it.⁵ The Spirit “teaches us all things”⁶; He makes known to us what He receives from Jesus, and in so doing, the Spirit glorifies the Son.⁷ And as the “Spirit of grace,”⁸ He lives with us and in us.⁹ He is here to help us and to be with us forever, God’s presence for a lifetime.¹⁰

Then how does one receive this gift of grace? Peter tells us: “Each one of you must turn from sin, return to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; then you also shall receive this gift, the Holy Spirit.”¹¹ He will be there for you. Always.

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” — Isaiah 30:21

Father, thank You for this precious gift—Your Holy Spirit. Grace us to hear Him, trust Him, and follow His lead, both now and forever. In Christ we pray. Amen.

¹ John 16:7 ESV
² Luke 11:13
³ John 14:17
⁴ John 16:13-15
⁵ John 16:8
⁶ John 14:26
⁷ John 16:14
⁸ Hebrews 10:29
⁹ John 14:17
¹⁰ John 14:16
¹¹ Acts 2:38 TLB