May 8
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. For He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you,” John 16:12-15.
At this point in Jesus’ conversation with His disciples, He told them that He had many more things to tell them. However, He would not proceed, because spiritually they were not ready for much more. They needed further instruction, but the time was not right. They were very sorrowful because He had told them that He was going to leave them.
There is a time and place for everything. Spiritually, people are not always ready to receive certain spiritual truths. It reminds us of what the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian Christians: “I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able,” 1 Corinthians 3:1-2. When feeding babies, we begin with milk, and in the course of time we proceed to solid food. In teaching the Christian truths, we begin with the simple truths, the message of sin and the Savior. People need time to grow spiritually.
In teaching children and adults the doctrines of Christianity, we do not begin with teaching the more difficult doctrines. We begin by speaking about sin and the Savior as it is revealed in Holy Scripture. In dealing with adults from different denominations, we do not begin by attacking false teachings which they might have learned. Placing falsehoods that they have been taught into the light of the Bible will come in due time. Remember, the theme of these devotions is Walk In The Word!
When the Word of God is properly taught, the Holy Spirit is always actively touching the hearts of the hearers, inviting them to believe and trust in Jesus as the Son of God and the only Savior from sin, death, and the devil. Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32.
In the text at the beginning of this devotion, the Lord Jesus states that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work in unity for the salvation of souls. Believe and trust in the true God. God the Father loves you, and sent His Son to save you. Jesus, the Son of God, loves you, and sacrificed Himself to save you. God the Holy Spirit, in love, testifies of the love of the Father and the Son. We believe in a loving and forgiving God!
“O God, forsake me not!
Thy gracious presence lend me.
Lead Thou Thy helpless child;
Thy Holy Spirit send me,
That I my course may run.
Be Thou my Light, my Lot,
My Staff, my Rock, my Shield –
O God, forsake me not!
O God, forsake me not!
Take not Thy Spirit from me;
And suffer not the might
Of sin to overcome me.
Increase my feeble faith,
Which Thou Thyself hast wrought;
Be Thou my Strength and Pow’r –
O God, forsake me not!” Amen.