God's Holy Fire: 'Jesus' Parting Gift'

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Merry Christmas!

We pray the Lord blesses you with the grace of Jesus' presence this Christmas!

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[Jesus said,] "I'm telling you these things while I'm still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I'm leaving you well and whole. That's my parting gift to you. Peace. I don't leave you the way you're used to being left — feeling abandoned, bereft. So don't be upset. Don't be distraught."
— John 14:25-27 MESSAGE

Key Thought

I hate goodbyes, especially when I don't know if I will ever again see the people with whom I'm saying, "Goodbye!" This summer has been filled with such goodbyes, and I'm trying not to let them be final. Jesus makes clear that as he leaves his closest followers, he is not abandoning them. He is sending the Friend, the Holy Spirit, to be with them. His presence is their source of peace! He is Comforter, Counselor, Helper, and Friend. The Spirit will be with them and bring them into the Lord's presence whole and holy. The Spirit will help them remember, and even remind them of, Jesus' teachings and help make those teachings plain. And I believe with all my heart that these same promises are given to us, we who have been invited to hear Jesus' last extended conversation with the early disciples!

Today's Prayer

O Father, thank you for your plan to incarnate yourself among us in Jesus and then to incarnate yourself within us in the Holy Spirit, our Comforter, Counselor, Helper, and Friend. I praise you, O God — Father, Son, and Spirit — in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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Illustration

Illustration of John 14:25-27 MESSAGE — "I'm telling you these things while I'm still living with you."

About This Devotional

God's Holy Fire is a daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

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