A Word For Today

Our world lacks wholeness.

I think this is how I would try to sum things up at our present state. There is much that divides and there are forces intentionally trying to divide.

It is easy to be troubled, outraged and overwhelmed.

In part because of the sheer number of things we have to process and also because these responses can be “automatic” and “natural”.

The Church is meant to rise above.

I am starting to ask myself more often, “how can I rise above this…? This isn’t to escape, avoid or minimize any one thing but to make sure the most important thing stay the most important thing.

Jesus promises another Advocate.

This is another in the idea of, “one just like me”. Same but different. This word for the Holy Spirit in verses 16 and 26 is more than what some translations give us: comforter, helper, counselor, etc. All these starts to paint the picture but fall short. 1 John 2.1 reminds us this is also the word for Jesus.

1 John 2:1–2 NIV

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

The Spirit, Jesus and God the Father are the same.

This is one of the best passages to be reminded of the hope and truth of the Trinity. It is not easy to understand and it is hard to always articulate well but this is key to our faith.

The promise: we are never alone!

If we know Jesus we can rest on this objective truth: we are never alone! God is with us.

The promise: Jesus offers peace—the wholeness of God.

The word for peace is Shalom. It is more than just the absence of something. It starts to remind us the wholeness and integrity. Notice also Jesus offers it in a way that the world cannot comprehend nor like the world.

The challenge: we must love Jesus and obey.

We should not, cannot expect the Holy Spirit to be active in the ministry of wholeness if we are not obedient to Jesus. We cannot expect peace when we are actively engaged in sin.

The challenge: we must admit we need help.

As long as we think we can do it “all on our own” or “pick myself up with my bootstraps” or some other though we will miss it again and again.

Jesus offers peace, wholeness and power. Accept his offer today!

This is our hope.