2 minute read.
Daily Reading: 2 Samuel 12:1-31 ESV, John 16:1-33 ESV, Psalm 119:65-80 ESV, Proverbs 16:4-5 ESV
Daily Verse: “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7 ESV)
SUMPHERO (4851): “Signifies transitively, lit., “to bring together,” (sun “with,” phero, “to bring”), intransitively, “to be an advantage, profitable, expedient,” it is used mostly impersonally,”[i]
Bring together.
Jesus knows that His time has come to leave. Limitations exist in the physical realm, even for Jesus. To reach the world, Christ sent the Holy Spirt in his place. God’s Spirit has no boundaries, able to indwell in believers everywhere.
Utterly dependent on Jesus, the disciples can’t imagine life on earth without Him. The boys don’t understand Jesus’ departure from the world doesn’t mean He’s leaving them. Because Christ ascended, He brought them and us together with the Holy Spirit.
Advantage Jesus
Explaining to someone how the Holy Spirit works in my life seems challenging at times. Anyone who places their faith in Jesus and begins to pursue Him will understand what I mean. Nudges come from within precisely at the right time, way, and place. When God prompts, you know without a doubt what to do; His message clear.
Without Jesus’ departure, we wouldn’t have the benefit of His spirit. The advantage Christ gives us comes from our heavenly Father as we merge our soul with His. Every day we pursue Jesus, our advantage grows stronger.
Letting the Holy Spirit lead you means getting out of your comfort zone. Christ’s teachings go against the world’s, His emphasis on the eternal instead of the temporary. Where the world says to hate, Jesus calls us to love. Instead of revenge, we must pray for our enemies. If we see a need we can meet, God wants us to meet it.
God’s Spirit dwelling in you will help you love others well. Following His promptings will continue to grow God’s kingdom. Jesus’ departure from earth gave us our spiritual advantage, let the Holy Spirit guide your way.
[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 239) Thomas Nelson
