Day 7: The Gospel-Presence
“What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear.” This sweet old gospel song comforts us with the constant presence of Jesus, who said he would be with us always. Can you imagine the shock of those who heard Jesus promise to send the Holy Spirit and then saw him lift off the earth and go higher and higher until he disappeared into the sky? “Great—What are we supposed to do now?”
Do you ever take the personal presence of Jesus for granted? I know I do. I sometimes forget that Jesus is with us by virtue of the Spirit, which has everything to do with promise and power. After the disciples waited in Jerusalem as Jesus instructed, the Holy Spirit indeed came upon them and they became witnesses on his behalf. Peter knew the promise from Joel given hundreds of years earlier, “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy” (Acts 2:17–18). Peter also knew that Jesus was God who gave the Spirit: “Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you know see and hear” (Acts 2:33).
Question to Consider:
Consider for a moment the great loss and cost of living outside of God’s truth, not just for yourself, but especially for those who have never really known it. Jesus is with you because of God’s promise. What is God empowering you to do?
Prayer:
Lord, I am profoundly grateful for your friendship. You stick closer than my closest friends and even my family. Please help me to stay true to you today—loyal as you are to your Word and to me.
By Dr. Bob Stallman