John-14:16-18,-ephesians-1:13-14

For Reading and Meditation:     2 Corinthians 13:1-14

That great Christian, Francis Schaeffer, said that he would have remained an agnostic if it weren't for the doctrine of the Trinity. It was this, he claimed, that gave him the answer - the only answer - to the theme of unity and diversity. The question I have been asked most often about the Trinity is this: Why...

BELIEVERS when in darkness, often fear that Jesus has forsaken them; this is natural; but it is unscriptural; for He has said, "I will never leave thee, I will never forsake thee." His offices require His presence with us, His love secures His presence to us. He will not leave us orphans. We are absolutely dependent upon Him; our comfort is His gift, and the countenance of comfort depends on His presence and grace. He is the great source of comfort to His people; His presence and His...

"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." John 14:18

He left us, and yet we are not left orphans. He is our comfort, and He is gone; but we are not comfortless. Our comfort is that He will come to us, and this is consolation enough to sustain us through His prolonged absence. Jesus is already on His way: He says, "I come quickly": He rides posthaste toward us. He says, "I will come": and none can prevent His coming,...

Great Father revealed himself to believers of old before the coming of his Son, and was known to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as the God Almighty. Then Jesus came, and the ever-blessed Son in his own proper person, was the delight of his people's eyes. At the time of the Redeemer's ascension, the Holy Spirit became the head of the present dispensation, and his power was gloriously manifested in and after Pentecost. He remains at this hour the present Immanuel-God with us, dwelling in and with...

More literally, I will not leave you orphans - bereaved of all that you hold most dear, most necessary - helpless in the presence of many foes - friendless in the presence of many trials - skilless in the presence of an immense task. The parents are the complement of the little child. It operates through their wisdom and power and resources, to keep its place in the world, and act its part. The Christian without Christ, if such a thing can be conceived, is the most deplorably helpless being...

John 14:15-27

Everything in Christian life is love. "The fruit of the Spirit is love." There are other things that are mentioned as fruit - but love is named first, and all the others are only parts or qualities of love. The one white ray of light is resolved into the seven colors of the rainbow. Just so does love, the white ray that shines from the face of God, separate itself into all the heavenly graces. "The fruit of the Spirit is...

So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you. § Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world… At my first...

Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, nor with things too profound for me. Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant. § There is a God in heaven who reveals secrets. § Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways, and how small a whisper we hear of Him!No...

It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. § You did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” § The Spirit … helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession...

As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you. § Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them … And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them. § Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” § A High Priest … [to] sympathize with our weaknesses....