Just last week, our family was checking out a sweet camper trailer with an overhead pull-down bunk bed. For the first time in a long time, my nine-year-old son asked me to lift him up so he could take a peek. Of course, his words to what he saw above were, “This is awesome!” But his request reminded me of something that is true of all of us: we are weak, and we need a Helper.
Before Jesus was betrayed and arrested, he promised his disciples, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16-17). Literally, Jesus promised another helper who is just like him to be with us after his ascension back to the Father. And who’s the other helper? None other than the Holy Spirit.
My fellow Christian, take heart! Jesus has not left you alone. His very Spirit is within you. And here’s what’s so wonderful about that: his Spirit guides, equips, and even empowers you for Jesus-like living and service (John 16:13; Romans 12:4-8; Ephesians 3:16). We are weak, and it’s impossible to live the Christian life on our own, but thanks be to God who lifts us so we can take a peek, so to speak. What we cannot do on our own, he does for us through his Spirit. Spend some time this week giving God thanks for such a wonderful gift.