The Gift of the Spirit

As Jesus faced the cross, He also faced His disciples' sorrow, fear, confusion and insecurities. It's no wonder they struggled with such things; Jesus had called them to a task far larger than themselves, and now He was about to leave them! "It is to your advantage that I go away…" How could they possibly get by, let alone carry out Jesus' mission in the world, without Him? The promise Jesus made in light of those human weaknesses transformed the first disciples into hopeful, courageous, clear-thinking ambassadors for the kingdom of God. “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever…" (John 14:16). Are you sometimes hindered by sorrow, fear, confusion, and insecurity? Me, too. The mission Christ has given to us simply cannot be carried out in our own natural ability… and so often we feel the weight of that reality. Praise God that as we live under the influence of the Holy Spirit, we too are changed into hopeful, courageous, clear-thinking ambassadors for the kingdom.