John 15:26-27 (CEB)

26 “When the Companion comes, whom I will send from the Father—the Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father—he will testify about me. 27 You will testify too, because you have been with me from the beginning.


Reflection

There’s a saying that I’ve grown fond of – the idea that “all truth is God’s truth.” In other words, all that is true and all that is good comes from one source: God. Whether we’re talking about scientific truths about how the world was made or theological truths about the love of God that we see in the face of Jesus Christ, truth has one source and points in one direction. Truth, even when it’s uncomfortable – maybe especially when it’s uncomfortable – always points us toward God. The scriptures recognize the contrast between pure truth and devilish deceit by referring to the devil as “the father of lies” (John 8:44).

But in the New Testament, there’s a particular sense in which the Holy Spirit testifies to the truth. The Spirit is present wherever and whenever people receive the gospel and put their trust in Jesus. We see this over and over again. The Spirit testifies first to the truth of the disciples’ teaching and then again to the reality that those who hear and accept it are saved and given a brand new life that will last to eternity.

Here’s the thing about the Spirit though: the Spirit of God doesn’t hand out private truths meant to be enlightening only to their recipients. Holy Spirit truth is meant to be shared with the entire world. We’re called to testify to the truth of God’s great love for us in Jesus, and what miracles his love has made possible in our lives. It’s the Spirit’s job to empower us for that work.

By Joe Monahan


For Pondering & Prayer

Have you ever had a spiritual conversation with someone that was completely unexpected, or that you felt completely unprepared for? How did it go?

Prayer: God, we often don’t know how to help people to uncover the truths of their lives. In fact, we often fail to recognize the truth of our own. When we are struggling to understand your work in us, remind us of the powerful truth of the gospel, and the amazing ability of your love and grace to redeem any situation. Then let us testify to this truth to someone else who needs encouragement and hope. Amen.