July 31
I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth.
- John 14:16-17, NIV
Jesus described the Holy Spirit as “Another.” The Greek word actually means “another who is exactly the same.” So although the Holy Spirit is a distinct person, He is exactly the same as Jesus, but without the physical body. He has been described as Jesus without skin. Or, like an FBI agent, He is Jesus undercover.
We know that Jesus is in heaven. As the first martyr, Stephen, was being stoned to death, he looked up and saw heaven open and Jesus standing at God’s right hand, preparing to welcome him home! (Acts 7:56)
But that doesn’t mean Jesus has left us to stumble through the darkness of the future on our own. He promised His disciples that when He went to heaven, He would ask His Father to send down to earth “Another.” One Who would have His same mind, will, emotions, and intellect. Jesus called Him the Counselor (John 14:16), because He is readily available to give us wisdom for our decisions, direction for our future, insight into our problems, and management for our responsibilities.
From Just Give Me Jesus
