“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” (John 16:13 ESV)
In the verse before us today, we have a word of great instruction for the humbly inquiring mind that desires to know all the truth. Is that you today? Let’s take a brief look at three wonderful truths in these words from our Lord.
First, let us rejoice that the Spirit of Christ has come, and He has come to every believer. Just a few verses earlier in that same passage, John recorded these words from Jesus: “I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you.” (John 16:7 ESV). Jesus has ascended into heaven and is sitting in His rightful position of power and authority at the right hand of God the Father, but He has not left us alone. He promised His disciples–and He promises you and me–“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18). He has sent His Holy Spirit to be with every one of His children (Ephesians 1:13).
Second, let us rejoice that the Spirit of Christ has come as our Guide. We all painfully aware that we are as prone to wander as we are prone to err, and so we are in tremendous need of our Guide. Left alone, we will stray from the truth. We need our Divine Guide to keep our feet on the straight and narrow path, lest we drift to the left or to the right. The Holy Spirit is your personal Guide and Teacher, and it is His job to transmit the truth of God’s Word into our hearts and our minds.
Third, let us rejoice that the Spirit of Christ has come to guide us into all the truth. We do not want just some of the truth, which would lead to living a life that is out of balance. Without the whole counsel of God, we would only grow into a fraction of the person God is calling us to be. Only when we are guided into all the truth will we be prepared to weather any storm wind that blows our way. Those who receive only a portion of the truth find themselves buried under waves of challenge, rather than rising above them.
Do you have an inquiring mind that wants to know all the truth? I love the way the Amplified Bible renders Psalm 143:8 — “Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my inner self to You.” Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your steps, to guide your thoughts, and to shape your desires. You have the perfect Guide, living in you, as one of the many great and precious gifts you have received as a result of your faith in Jesus Christ.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 