The Greatest Counselor

A little over a week ago we celebrated Good Friday... the moment in history when Jesus Christ gave the entire world hope for eternity with Him by giving up His life and dying a horrific death on a cross. He did this to pay the penalty for the sin this world commits and show His amazing love for us. And we know Jesus Christ conquered the grave, came back to life, and ascended into Heaven 3 days later. Praise the Lord!

Jesus had about 12 very close friends and followers, disciples, who heard His most important teachings during the last 3 years of Jesus's life and were given the mission on carrying on the Gospel. During the last night of life on Earth, Jesus sat down for a significant dinner with the disciples to pass on the last moments of teaching. During this supper, Jesus told the disciples that when He left the Earth, they would still have another Counselor with them to guide them. 

John 14:15-17 "If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you."

John 14:21-22 "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will beloved by my Father and I too will love him and how myself to Him."

John 14:23-26 "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teachings. My Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me, will not obey my teachings. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. All this I have spoken while still you. But the Counselor, 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."

Love = faith = obedience. Love, like faith, cannot be separated from obedience. If you claim to love Christ, then He commands you to obey Him as well. You cannot just claim love without obedience and faith in that. And because God has sent His Holy Spirit to be a part of us, He speaks truth in our hearts. The Holy Spirit is our Counselor and guides us to make decisions and choices that will follow glorify Christ. When we are one with God and in tune with Him, we are more able to hear and feel His Holy Spirit. 

Have you ever noticed that? When you haven't been in the Word, haven't been in prayer, and have strayed away from God... you don't feel His presence as much? But when you dig in to the Word, you're following God's commandments and teachings, you're praying and have a real relationship with God... you feel His presence, His Holy Spirit, deep in your soul. You are lead to make decisions that you feel peace about because they come from the Holy Spirit. You feel conviction from the Holy Spirit when you know there is a part of your life that is not falling in line with Christ's plan for you. 

Don't ignore the greatest Counselor of all... The Holy Spirit.