Seeking the Truth

John 16:12–15 NIV

“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

There is joy in watching a child learn a new skill. Counting to 10. Adding 1 plus 1. Reciting the alphabet. Reading a word. Reading a book. There are steps to these processes. We can’t read a book without knowing how to read individual words. And we can’t read individual words without knowing the alphabet. It’s a process.

As adults we struggle to learn new skills. We sometimes become frustrated not being able to master a certain skill and give up. How many times have we perhaps tried to play a guitar, piano; paint a picture; fix the plumbing…only to fail as we realize we don’t possess the skills needed to ackomplish these things. We forget the processes. We forget that we must learn the basics before we can move on to the “fun” stuff.

Today’s reading, (a brief one) reminds Jesus’ followers that they certainly don’t understand the entirety of God’s plan. Jesus provides this wonderful connection, through the Holy Spirit that will guide them into a deeper understanding of this wondrous plan. And as we struggle with understanding all the challenges that life constantly throws at us, let us remember to turn to our advocate the Holy Spirit for guidance in our daily struggles. The Holy Spirit…actually the entire Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit)...always provides us with so much more that any of us can truly understand.

The truth of the Holy Spirit truly brings glory to Jesus. In our 21st century world where we glorify individuals such as musicians, movie stars, politicians, sporting stars, ourselves, we have lost sight of who we should be focusing our efforts on glorifying. God should be our focus, not just during times of worship, but during all our daily activities. Just as we continue to improve our knowledge in learningiimproving skills in our workplaces and hobbies, we should improve our knowledge of God, seeking the truth. And such truth seeking can only be found through the Holy Spirit. It’s a process. We need to know the basics first. And like all good relationships grounded in truth, our personal relationship with Jesus will strengthen and be guided in the truth.

Matthew Henry said it this was: “Christ’s departure was necessary to the Comforter’s coming. Sending the Spirit was to be the fruit of Christ’s death, which was his going away. His bodily presence could be only in one place at one time, but his Spirit is every where, in all places, at all times, wherever two or three are gathered together in his name. See here the office of the Spirit, first to reprove, or to convince. Convincing work is the Spirit’s work; he can do it effectually, and none but he. It is the method the Holy Spirit takes, first to convince, and then to comfort. The Spirit shall convince the world, of sin; not merely tell them of it. The Spirit convinces of the fact of sin; of the fault of sin; of the folly of sin; of the filth of sin, that by it we are become hateful to God; of the fountain of sin, the corrupt nature; and lastly, of the fruit of sin, that the end thereof is death. The Holy Spirit proves that all the world is guilty before God. He convinces the world of righteousness; that Jesus of Nazareth was Christ the righteous. Also, of Christ’s righteousness, imparted to us for justification and salvation. He will show them where it is to be had, and how they may be accepted as righteous in God’s sight. Christ’s ascension proves the ransom was accepted, and the righteousness finished, through which believers were to be justified. Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. All will be well, when his power is broken, who made all the mischief. As Satan is subdued by Christ, this gives us confidence, for no other power can stand before him. And of the day of judgment. The coming of the Spirit would be of unspeakable advantage to the disciples. The Holy Spirit is our Guide, not only to show us the way, but to go with us by continued aids and influences. To be led into a truth is more than barely to know it; it is not only to have the notion of it in our heads, but the relish, and savour, and power of it in our hearts. He shall teach all truth, and keep back nothing profitable, for he will show things to come. All the gifts and graces of the Spirit, all the preaching, and all the writing of the apostles, under the influence of the Spirit, all the tongues, and miracles, were to glorify Christ. It behoves every one to ask, whether the Holy Spirit has begun a good work in his heart? Without clear discovery of our guilt and danger, we never shall understand the value of Christ’s salvation; but when brought to know ourselves aright, we begin to see the value of the Redeemer. We should have fuller views of the Redeemer, and more lively affections to him, if we more prayed for, and depended on the Holy Spirit.”

Psalm 29 (NIV)

Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings,

ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;

worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

The voice of the Lord is over the waters;

the God of glory thunders,

the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.

The voice of the Lord is powerful;

the voice of the Lord is majestic.

The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;

the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

He makes Lebanon leap like a calf,

Sirion like a young wild ox.

The voice of the Lord strikes

with flashes of lightning.

The voice of the Lord shakes the desert;

the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.

The voice of the Lord twists the oaks

and strips the forests bare.

And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;

the Lord is enthroned as King forever.

The Lord gives strength to his people;

the Lord blesses his people with peace.