JOHN 14:16-17

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

TO PONDER

Have you ever been somewhere that it was clear you did not belong?

I remember the first time I was invited to play golf with some friends. I had never really played golf before but figured it couldn't be that hard, so I accepted the invitation, borrowed a set of clubs, and headed out to the local golf course.

As you might imagine, it was not long before it became obvious that I did not really belong on the golf course and didn't really know what it was was doing. Initially, my friends helped me out with suggestions and tips to improve my swing. Some of it helped, much of it didn't. My ineptitude wasn't really a problem though until later in the day when the course began to fill up. Other groups of golfers often became frustrated at our group (but really just me) because it could take us a lot longer to finish a hole and they would be stuck waiting behind us.

My friends who knew golf etiquette, invited many of them to 'play through' and so we ended up waiting and watching a lot of other people play in front of us, grumbling and moaning about the 'young people' who were ruining their golf experience.

Sometimes accepting the Holy Spirit's invitation to walk with him through life is like that. The people around you don't like you bringing the Holy Spirit into their space. Anyone who has been a Christian for long enough will undoubtedly will have either been accused of a 'holier that thou' attitude, or of being a 'kill joy' because you might be audacious enough to suggest that some kinds of 'fun' might not actually be good for you.

These days, I'm still a long way from being a good golfer, but I'd like to think I'd not hold people up too much and they might be more accepting of my presence on the course. If we are gentle and persistent, others who initially reject us because of our faith, might also come to see and accept us because of the love and patience and 'Fruits of the Spirit' they encounter in us as the Holy Spirit helps us to bring the Love of Jesus to life for them.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of Holy Spirit, your presence with me to help and guide me. I know that often the world does not recognise or acknowledge you and can be antagonistic towards your followers. Please help me not to be a reason people reject you, but let my life instead be something that draws people to you. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle