The Counselor

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

THE COUNSELOR

John 16:1-11

16:1 "All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with you.

5 "Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' 6 Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. 7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

NIV

We have to conclude some of what Jesus said what directed only to his disciples while much of what he said is directed to all who would believe. Still, we can see everything in a personal context. We have the words of Jesus, the truth of God so that we will not go astray. Surely we are not going to be put out of the synagogue, which is strictly for the disciples. But why would they even what to be in the synagogue? The Jews practiced worship to God but did not accept Jesus as being the Messiah. However, we know Paul always went to the synagogues first when he arrived at a new city to share the good news about Jesus. We also know the disciples were eventually killed for their faith in Jesus. There are people throughout the course of history and even today who are killed because of their faith. It is always possible and we have been warned it could happen. But again that would require people to hate us enough because we are so vocal about faith in Jesus Christ. Still, they were going to do great things for some time, being movers and shakers for the kingdom of God. Their power was not of human origin nor is ours. Jesus made it clear that when he left earth to return to heaven, he would send the Holy Spirit to empower his people. The fact is we cannot convince people to believe in Jesus or that they are sinners in need of repentance. We certainly can tell people about the good news, about Jesus being the truth, the light, and the way. But as for their conviction about their condition and need to come to Jesus, it is up to the Spirit. We can even be as bold to share what we term as Romans Road, giving them the pattern to salvation, but unless they are convicted by the Spirit, our words fall on deaf ears and a blind heart. Yet that does not relieve us from the responsibility of sharing the truth about Jesus. We are not the judge, nor should we prejudge who will accept the truth and who will reject the truth. We cannot assume either that people will just come to Jesus on their own, or because they see we are really nice people and ask us why are we so nice, so then we can tell them because we are Christians. If that is all we say, then it is meaningless because many who are lost believe they are Christians, but they have no idea of being a born again follower of Jesus Christ, or a need to repent of their sin and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. No, we must share the good news, as well as live a life worthy of our calling. We have been silent too long, and now is the time to speak out. It might offend someone, and that is just the way it is. This being afraid of being offensive has kept us silent at times, and that is all the work of the devil. So let us speak up for our Lord. We have the power of the Spirit, we have been empowered with gifts, not just to use within the body of Christ, but to use in our lives in the world. The word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, the power to heal, the power to preach the good news, the power to evangelize, of prophecy, declaring the kingdom of God is near. Let us allow the Counselor to direct our words, our path, and our life.