The Well
The Well |
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Connecting Hope to the Hurting | |
Wednesday
December 3, 2008
Jesus replied, "All those who love me will do what I say.
My Father will love them, and we will come to them and live with them. Anyone who doesn't love me will not do what I say. And
remember, my words are not my own. This message is from the Father who sent
me. I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the
Counselor as my representative – and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit –
he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have
told you."
John 14:23-26
So, here is a stark reality. If our children love us they will complete the tasks assigned to them in our absence. If they don't love us, they may use our name to get some things from some people that don't really know us, and our relationship will be strained. As a matter of fact, our children may not even be around when we return…they will be off doing their own thing.
Centuries before Jesus walked the Earth to reveal the Father to us, God gave Isaiah the foundation of what Jesus would do: "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has appointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord's favor has come, and with it, the day of Gods anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, he will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair. For the Lord has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory." (Isaiah 61:1-3)
So, God gave us a barometer to let us know whether we are on the right track or not. Are we about the Father's business? Are we sharing the Good News with the poor? Are we comforting the brokenhearted and announcing that the captives will be released and the prisoners freed? Are we telling those who mourn that the Lord's favor has come and that God will avenge them for their pain by giving them beauty for ashes…? If not, we really need to face the truth about our relationship with Him.
When we come to the end of ourselves and really begin to trust God as our Father and Jesus as our Savior we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Wonderful Counselor comes and abides within us. Then and only then do we have the authority and the power to complete the work assigned to Jesus and use His name legitimately. If we will spend some time alone with Him He will provide us the wisdom to go where our Father would have us to go and complete the tasks assigned to us.
Perhaps this Christmas you will allow the Holy Spirit to direct you to repentance. Perhaps you need to face reality. I know I do. Maybe by giving yourself the gift of time to handle this, He will give You the joy of sharing that gift with someone else. What an awesome Christmas present…the gift of life everlasting!
Father, I am reminded of the many times my parents went away from home and I did anything but honor their name. I praise You that You have washed my record of that horrible truth. You have allowed me to be set free, to mourn my sin, and receive beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, and praise instead of despair. Please, help me not be selfish with Your truth!
