“And I will [ask] the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever” – John 14:16, NKJV.

In 2017, I started using reading glasses. While I can do everything else without them, I need to use them to read small text.

Sometime back, I forgot to carry the reading glasses yet I had to make some transactions in town, which required filling in some forms.

The text was really tiny and without my glasses I needed help to fill in the forms.

Thankfully, two ladies were kind enough to offer a helping hand. In the corner of my eye, I could see another customer looking at us, bemusedly wondering how a gentleman speaking perfect English would need someone to fill a simple form for him.

Well, isn’t it our weakness as people to pre-judge others without getting all the information?

In a world that is getting more and more complex and sophisticated, almost everyone needs help.

I mean you can’t take anything for granted anymore.

Even billionaires do need help and they are not ashamed to ask for it.

Today, it’s absolutely important to know someone or to know someone who knows someone who knows someone who can help!

We need help to keep up with telecommunication services; help to use new technology; help to navigate the waters of legal issues; help with health challenges; just name it.

Indeed in almost every customer service organization, the ‘Help Desk’ is always the busiest section, sometimes working 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever.”

     

AMPLIFIED VERSION

In our meditation Scripture today, our Lord Jesus was assuring His troubled disciples that He had to leave but He would send them another ‘Helper’ – the Holy Spirit.

The Lord Jesus had been with them for three years. 

They had left everything, including their careers and families, to follow their Master, Teacher, Defender, Provider, etc. 

What was going to happen now that He was preparing to leave them?

I like the way The Amplified Bible puts that verse: “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever.”

 The word “forever” is very significant; He will always be there, through the Church generations and across the globe, not limited to geographical location (Acts 2:39).

So whatever you need help with, Paraclete – the Holy Spirit – is always a ‘Standby’ – always ready and willing to help you live the Christian life that God intended for you.

Today, God is inviting us to allow His Holy Spirit to help us in every area of our life.

Just imagine what would happen to the Church if we all depended on the latent supernatural help of the Holy Spirit rather than our own wisdom, understanding, plans and stratagems.

Prayer:                              

Dear Holy Spirit, thank you for being my Helper. Whom or what shall I fear? Please help me learn how to rely on you more as my Teacher, Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor, Counselor, Strengthener and Standby. In the Name of Jesus, Amen!