MORNING MEDITATION

“The Counselor, The Holy Spirit Is Here To Teach Us…!”

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“The Counselor, The Holy Spirit Is Here To Teach Us…”(Jn.14:23-27).
Some few years back we were attending a workshop in Addis Ababa. One afternoon in the hotel lobby I saw a group of tall dark-skinned men and when I made enquiries to know who they were I learned that they were the opposing groups of South Sudanese who were there for a peace-talk. I wondered to myself why brothers would decide to fight each other to the point where they have to go and negotiate peace but in another country!
Even now, peace in South Sudan is still fragile. And to think that in my homeland we think that what we started barely seven years ago is going to end so soon. It’s easy to start, but it’s end is often far out of sight.
As part of his last words which prepared his disciples to emulate him, Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Inherent in these words is that peace is a priceless legacy bequeathed to us by the Lord; which must be continued in the spirit of the giver.
There is no gainsaying that peace is not just the absence of strive, but the full implementation of justice, because “peace without justice is like a crumbling city wall.”
The Lord Jesus Christ leaves us with peace and gives it to us, and this makes the difference. It is possible to leave people with something without giving it to them as their possession. Christ leaves us with his peace and he gives us his peace.
The peace which he gives us is not as the world gives.
How then does the world give peace and how different is Jesus’ peace gift to that of the world?
Jesus was speaking within context. Shalom – peace was a common Hebrew greeting. Jesus uses it here in an unsual way. Men of the world have shalom on their lips but scheming your downfall in their hearts. On the contrary the peace of Jesus is what his redemptive work will achieve for the disciples – total well-being and inner rest of spirit, in fellowship with God. True peace is a gift of God through Christ. Out of Christ peace is farfetched or at its best, temporary.
And so dear friend, in the midst of the chaos that characterizes all segments of society and which threatens our existence, we have this blessed assurance: “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Yes; our hearts cannot be troubled and we cannot be afraid because on this Pentecost day, the Father has sent the Counselor, the Holy Spirit who will teach us all things and remind us of everything the Lord Jesus Christ has told us.
Do not be afraid of any storm, because the One who told the stormy seas, “Peace, be still;” is the same person who, in our stormy days tells us, “Let not your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid!”
Pentecost prayer: Holy Spirit descend upon us anew and anoint us for a fresh revival for peace. Amen!
Have a happy and blessed Pentecost Sunday! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.

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