The Holy Spirit Is Present 圣灵同在
Dexu Xia
I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever.
Making his preflight checks for a flight from Charlotte, North Carolina, to New York City, a flight attendant noticed a passenger visibly anxious and concerned about flying. He sat in the aisle, held her hand, explained each step of the flight process, and reassured her that she was going to be fine. “When you get on an aircraft, it's not about us, it's about you,” he said. “And if you’re not feeling good, I want to be there to say, ‘Hey, what’s wrong? Is there something I can do?’ ” His caring presence can be a picture of what Jesus said the Holy Spirit would do for believers in Him.
Christ’s death and resurrection and ascension were necessary and beneficial to save people from their sins, but it would also create emotional turbulence and deep sorrow in the disciples’ hearts (John 14:1). So He reassured them that they wouldn’t be left alone to carry out His mission in the world. He would send the Holy Spirit to be with them—an “advocate to help [them] and be with [them] forever” (v. 16). The Spirit would bear witness about Jesus and remind them of all Christ did and said (v. 26). They would be “encouraged by” Him during difficult times (Acts 9:31).
In this life, everyone—including believers in Christ—will experience the turbulence of anxiety, fear, and grief. But He’s promised that, in His absence, the Holy Spirit is present to comfort us.
By: Marvin Williams
What’s been troubling you in your life? How can you seek the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit?
Dear Jesus, thank You for the Spirit’s comfort and counsel.
我要求父，父就另外赐给你们一位保惠师，叫祂永远与你们同在。—约翰福音14章16节
在一架将要从北卡罗来纳州夏洛特市飞往纽约市的飞机上，一名空服员在进行起飞前的检查时，注意到一位女乘客对飞行明显感到焦虑和害怕。这名空服员随即来到这位女乘客身边，直接坐在走道上，握着她的手，向她解释整个飞行过程，并向她保证会平安无事。空服员说：“当你登机之后，我们都会关注你的需要。若你感到不适，我希望能陪在你身边，关心你的需要，想知道你是否安好？可以为你做些什么？”空服员的关心和陪伴让女乘客安下心来，这也让我联想到，耶稣说过圣灵会陪伴那些相信基督的人。
为了拯救人们脱离罪恶，基督必须受死，然后复活、升天，但这会让门徒感到害怕不安并悲痛不已（约翰福音14章1节）。因此，耶稣向他们保证不会独留他们在世完成祂的使命。祂会赐下圣灵与他们在一起，成为他们的“保惠师，叫祂永远与[他们]同在”（16节）。圣灵会为耶稣作见证，并提醒他们基督所做和所说的一切（26节）。他们会在艰难时期“蒙圣灵的安慰”（使徒行传9章31节）。
每个人（包括基督徒）在一生中都会经历焦虑、恐惧和悲伤的冲击。但耶稣应许我们，在祂离开世上之后，圣灵会与你我同在，安慰我们。 作者： 魏马文
生活中有哪些事一直使你焦虑不安？
你如何寻求圣灵的同在与安慰？
亲爱的耶稣，感谢祢藉着圣灵安慰和劝诫我