Following JesusSample

You have help

Has a friend ever said they had your back then left you hanging? 

Jesus is not that type of friend. When Jesus came back from the dead, He returned to Earth temporarily then went ahead to prepare a place for us in heaven (John 14:1-3). But when Jesus left, He did not abandon us. He gave us His Spirit as our helper and guide.

The Holy Spirit is such a good friend that Jesus said it best for us if He left, so that the Holy Spirit would come. When Jesus was on Earth, He could only be with one person at one time. The Holy Spirit is able to be with all of us, all the time and for all time. 

The Holy Spirit has your back forever. He is your advocate and your guide as you follow Jesus. 

Two Ways the Holy Spirit Works on Our Behalf

1. He reminds us who we are.

“... the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26). 

The Holy Spirit wants you to become who God created you to be. He reminds us that we have been made new and teaches us how to live in our new identity. 

2. He empowers us to fulfill God’s call on our lives. 

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). 

Jesus says His people are to be known for the way they love and do good to others (Matthew 5:16, John 13:35). The Holy Spirit is the one who gives us the power to love and do good to the people in our homes and schools, on our teams, and at our jobs. 

You don’t have to wait until your older, richer, or more influential to make a difference in the world around you. The Holy Spirit helps us follow Jesus and bring good to the world around us — wherever we are. 

Reflect:

• Have you ever thought about the Holy Spirit as your helper? Did you know you had a friend in the Holy Spirit? 
•  What do you need the Holy Spirit to help you with today? 
• Take a few moments to ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you. Write down anything you think He might be saying to you. 
  • Does what you wrote sound the way God describes Himself (compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love, and faithfulness)?
  • Does what you wrote match what God and Jesus have said in the Bible? If you’re not sure, set those words aside and wait to see if they line up with what you read in the Bible. Remember, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one, and they will never contradict each other.