Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Promise: I will send another Counsellor!

John 14v16 “And I will ask the Father and he will send another Counsellor to be with you forever – the Spirit of Truth.”

Last week we considered Christ’s promise to return. But Jesus is also adamant that he will not leave us alone in the meantime:

• “I will not leave you as orphans …” John 14v18
• “When the Counsellor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth ..” John 15v26
• “It is for your good I am going away … If I go, I will send him to you.” John 16v7
• “But when he, the Spirit of Truth comes …” John 16v13
• “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28v20

Jesus’ promise was not a casual, offhand remark, but a firm, considered statement of fact. He would send the Holy Spirit when he left. The Holy Spirit is referred to as a “Counsellor” in many translations. The Greek is “paraclete” meaning “one who comes alongside”. This could be used in a variety of contexts, but all of them are about someone who cares, loves, supports, advocates for, advises, and is just with you. This is the Holy Spirit: he comes for your good. He comes to enable you, empower you and equip you in God’s way.

Jesus describes him as “another Counsellor”: he is going to replace Jesus and be like Jesus as we continue to live out life on this earth. Jesus is absent in body, but he is present by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has the same character as Jesus: holy, pure, loving, compassionate, connected to the Father.

I invite you to invite the Holy Spirit to have a greater impact in your life today. You are simply asking Jesus to fulfil his promise.

With love and blessing,

Roland