We are not orphans!

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Scripture

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
(John 14:18 NASB)
“After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also.
(John 14:19 NASB)
“In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
(John 14:20 NASB)

 

Observation


Sometimes it seems that we feel rather alone here on this earth -- especially as followers of Jesus Christ. It seems that the world is becoming increasingly hostile to Jesus followers. However, when Jesus spoke these words the situation was much worse. They were a mere handful of people living in a world that wanted to completely destroy them and Jesus is telling them that he is going away.

However, he wanted to make a promise to them, that even if he weren't with them physically -- they would not be alone. Not only would they not be alone but they would not be left disconnected but instead, they would be connected to him and the Father. The opportunity for a relationship would exist so that his followers would not feel like abandoned children, or orphans, but would feel and know that they were in a deep relationship with the family. For the first time here the language changes from Jesus just talking about he and the Father being in one another to language that Jesus would be in the Father, but that we could be in him, and he in us. He knew that this type of intimacy would only be available through the Holy Spirit, and this was the promise of the one who was to come. This promise of the Holy Spirit is what would unite humanity with God and no longer leave us orphaned.

 

Application


This is an amazing truth and if we're feeling down and out and thinking that God has left us alone, we are completely wrong. However, we must ask whether we are allowing the Holy Spirit to have free reign in our lives, thus allowing us not to feel orphaned. Too often when we feel alone it's because we have created barriers that allow the Holy Spirit to fill every part of our being. What might those barriers be? For Thomas it was doubt -- he wasn't sure he really believed. For Judas it was the love of money. Thomas was able to overcome his doubt, but Judas' love took him to his death. The Holy Spirit has power for us to overcome anything which we may be facing in our own lives.

I recently read a book "Outliers" which talks about different people who have been able to accomplish things outside the realm of what would seem "normal." For every one of these "outliers" there were certain events which seemed to align that brought them above the level of just being average. If we look over the history of Christianity we will discover that the difference which created "outliers" was the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Peter -- an ordinary fisherman is radically changed into a man whose life touches the entire world even to this day -- only through the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul -- a man with a passion to persecute Christians is transformed through the power of the Holy Spirit and becomes the greatest missionary the world has ever known. But then history continues to be filled with others -- the early martyrs, the desert monastics, the heads of movements, the voices of change, the translators of the Bible, etc. etc. etc. All of these have allowed the Holy Spirit to transform them from ordinary to extraordinary as children who are connected to their Father. You see, we are not orphans, unless we choose to be. Who would want to be an orphan? I want to be connected to the Father, and enjoy being his daughter.

 

Prayer


Lord, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit so that we may live life in a relationship with you -- not as orphans. I love you and thank you for the love you have lavished on us. Amen.

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