“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13, NIV)
It is never easy to lose a friend. Having moved into and out of a formal pastoral role in a local church and into full-time mission-minded work with golfers, I still am called upon at times to do the work that has traditionally been given to pastors in our culture, namely marrying and burying. I am not alone in this; others on our staff who are ordained or commissioned by their churches will sometimes do the same. Along with them, let me just make this rather obvious observation: Funerals are nearly always more difficult than weddings.
At funerals, people aren’t always sure what to say or how to act. Even when friends and family report on the enduring faith of the deceased and stand assured that he or she is with Jesus, some in the building have no similar faith for themselves and must wrestle uncomfortably with God and their thoughts about him. And even for those who believe, grief can cause a yearning for the return of the lost one, especially if the death has been untimely.
What can also be difficult is the loss of a friend who simply must leave. Circumstances of family or business provoke them to move far away, and it is hard to keep that firm upper lip as they drive off.
It is with strong understanding, then, that we can imagine the minds and hearts of the disciples of Jesus when he told them that he would be leaving. After all the living they had done with him, they would have been beyond hesitant to live without him. How would they know what to do? Who would answer their ongoing questions and shore up their faltering faith?
Jesus gave them the answer on the night of the Last Supper, when he spoke of the Holy Spirit. This is, as we considered last week, the person of the Godhead who empowers and communicates with God’s people. He is called, rightly so, both the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ in Scripture. The Father, the Son, and the Spirit work in eternal tandem.
Thus, the presence of the Spirit is a necessity if we are true Christ-followers; indeed, it is evidence of our connection to him. Only by the Spirit’s presence are we enabled to live a God-honoring life of righteousness. He is the thread that makes living out all the other threads of righteousness possible.
—
Jeff Hopper
January 16, 2015
Copyright 2015 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
OTHER DEVOTIONS IN THIS SERIES
Threads of Righteousness 1
Threads of Righteousness 2
Threads of Righteousness 3
Threads of Righteousness 4
Threads of Righteousness 5
Threads of Righteousness 6: God alone
Threads of Righteousness 7: Only God?
Threads of Righteousness 8: Humble Selves
Threads of Righteousness 9: Humble Acts
Threads of Righteousness 10: Mercy Speaks
Threads of Righteousness 11: Acting Justly
Threads of Righteousness 12: Generosity
Threads of Righteousness 13: Faithfulness
Threads of Righteousness 14: Purity
Threads of Righteousness 15: God of Love
Threads of Righteousness 16: God’s Loving Plan
Threads of Righteousness 17: Acting in Love
Threads of Righteousness 18: Spirit of God