(The Holy Spirit Led Life – Part 1)
by Kelly Dixon
Listen to Devotional OnlineThis Reading: John 14:15-21
Romans 8:15-17 
One of the joys I have in parenting is explaining new things to my children. It is exciting to see how their little minds absorb the information like a sponge. Sometimes I get a chuckle in doing so. Like the other day when I expressed to my five year old and seven year old daughters that I had purchased a dress shirt for their Daddy’s Father’s Day gift. When questioned as to why I got him a dress shirt, I answered, “Because that is what he wears to work and church so I thought He would enjoy a new one.” There was a silence following my explanation. I saw one look at the other with confusion on their faces and the oldest finally said, “Mom, we are having a hard time imagining Daddy wearing a shirt with a skirt on it.” I laughed as I explained what I meant by a dress shirt. They both then saw the humor of the moment.
However, sometimes it becomes frustrating trying to explain something to them that I know they are desperate to understand, but their experiences in life and age creates a limitation to that understanding. This is where Jesus is in John 14 as He knows that He is about to go to the cross and die for the sins of the world. Afterwards, He will be with the disciples in a different manner than before, but how does He explain it to them? He chooses to tell them (and us today) that He will not leave them as orphans. But how exactly will He not leave them as orphans, since He will be dying soon and going to His proper place in heaven seated at the right hand of God?
When we look up the definition of orphan, we see that it describes this state as being:
When we look up the definition of orphan, we see that it describes this state as being:
· A child who has lost both parents through death, or less commonly, one parent.
· A person without protective affiliation or union.
Both of these definitions will help us understand why Jesus wants us to know that we are not orphans. Why did Jesus feel a need to reassure the disciples that He would not leave them as orphans? I feel it is due mainly to the fact that His relationship with them on earth was so close and deep He wanted to make sure they understood His death was not the end of the relationship. To understand this further, we have to place ourselves in the shoes of the disciples at that time. It is believed they had spent three years of their lives with Jesus in His ministry. During this time they had created a great bond with Him and saw many miraculous healings. They had much of the knowledge about Christ’s ministry and probably many were starting to realize He was who He said He was – the true Bread of God from heaven(1); Light of the world(2); the good Shepherd and Savior of the world(3); the Resurrection and the Life(4). Jesus truly is in God and God is in Him. Now He wanted to explain to the disciples that there is another part of God that will be coming to them. One that will be with them always, except this would be hard to explain so He drew upon the aspects of an orphan.
Looking again at the definition of an orphan, we see that if one is orphaned, then they have lost their parents and are left without a protective union. Jesus wanted His disciples and us today to know that He will not leave us without parental provision and He will continue the protective union He and God the Father has established from the beginning. Even though He died on the cross He did not leave us on our own. He sent us the Holy Spirit as our Comforter to be with us while we live here on earth and to counsel us through the trials of life. That is why He expresses we are not left as orphans because upon salvation each believer was given the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us. His presence, though not physical, is certainly with us spiritually throughout our Christian lives.
Though in our human flesh we may feel alone, Jesus tells us in John 14 that we are not alone. His Spirit is with us. The world does not know Him, but we as Christians know Him because He lives with us and in us. This realization has to be acknowledged from the beginning of our study on being Holy Spirit-led for us to go further. We must let this fact settle in our hearts so that the enemy will not lead us into deception of thinking that our Heavenly Father has left us alone. He never has and He never will. For even when we were in our lost fallen state He sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins. Romans 8:32 tells us, “He Who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all – how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” Through Christ we are given the gift of salvation, but after our accepting of this gift, He generously poured out His Spirit upon us. Through letting His Spirit lead our lives, we are graciously given all things. We are never alone. God’s Spirit is always there to comfort, guide and nurture us.
Looking again at the definition of an orphan, we see that if one is orphaned, then they have lost their parents and are left without a protective union. Jesus wanted His disciples and us today to know that He will not leave us without parental provision and He will continue the protective union He and God the Father has established from the beginning. Even though He died on the cross He did not leave us on our own. He sent us the Holy Spirit as our Comforter to be with us while we live here on earth and to counsel us through the trials of life. That is why He expresses we are not left as orphans because upon salvation each believer was given the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us. His presence, though not physical, is certainly with us spiritually throughout our Christian lives.
Though in our human flesh we may feel alone, Jesus tells us in John 14 that we are not alone. His Spirit is with us. The world does not know Him, but we as Christians know Him because He lives with us and in us. This realization has to be acknowledged from the beginning of our study on being Holy Spirit-led for us to go further. We must let this fact settle in our hearts so that the enemy will not lead us into deception of thinking that our Heavenly Father has left us alone. He never has and He never will. For even when we were in our lost fallen state He sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins. Romans 8:32 tells us, “He Who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all – how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” Through Christ we are given the gift of salvation, but after our accepting of this gift, He generously poured out His Spirit upon us. Through letting His Spirit lead our lives, we are graciously given all things. We are never alone. God’s Spirit is always there to comfort, guide and nurture us.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Help me to take the knowledge about Your Holy Spirit being poured out on me at salvation to heart. Let it penetrate my soul so much that I will begin to constantly feel the presence of Your Holy Spirit. I know through Your Spirit’s guidance I can live a Spirit-filled life because the Holy Spirit will teach me more about You and remind me of Jesus. Amen.
Ponder or Journal: Remember a time when you felt alone. How did you feel? Now, take a moment to think about how the Holy Spirit has nurtured you in the past by gently making His presence known. If you have a journal, write down what you remember. Look up verses that will help you remember the truth about how God’s Holy Spirit is always with believers. Choose one of the verses to memorize that will help you always remember His presence in your life.
Scripture References:
(1) John 6:32-35; (2) John 8:12-14; (3) John 10:7-11; (4) John 11:21-27
