IS HE YOUR FRIEND?

I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.” John 14:16 (NKJV)

After Jesus rose from the dead, He devastated His disciples by telling them that He would soon need to leave them again. But in the same breath, Jesus explained that He would be sending someone else to be with them.

Actually, He said in John 14:16 that the Father would give them “another Helper” in place of Him (NKJV), “another Friend” (MSG) or “another Comforter (Counsellor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby)” (AMPC).

In other words, Jesus told His disciples that God was sending them someone who would be in relationship with them just the same way that He was in relationship with them—He with sending them Holy Spirit as another Friend.

To realize the magnitude of what you have in Holy Spirit, you need to know that Jesus said it was better for Him to go so that Holy Spirit would come (John 16:7). The disciples weren’t convinced that this was true, but Jesus knew how amazing Holy Spirit is. He knew that Holy Spirit could be fully present with you right now as you are reading this devotional and be with someone on the other side of the world at the same time—something Jesus could not do in an earthly body.

It was better for Jesus to leave so you would have Holy Spirit living inside you every moment of your life. He consoles and cheers you on as your friend and confidant. He instructs, teaches and guides you. He is your reinforcement and backup, your defender. And He is so much more. Treat Him as your best friend!

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