Friday 13 March, 2015

6 This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the[a] Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9 We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

What an encouraging passage that reminds believers that we have eternal life through Jesus… but I didn’t get past the second sentence! I was halted at ‘the Spirit is truth’. How amazing that the ‘truth’ is not some perpetually elusive and unidentified vapour but rather the person of the Holy Spirit. How amazing that the Holy Spirit dwells in us and is our advocate and aid. In other words, the truth is on our side if we are followers of Jesus!

Truth is such a contested concept these days, and it is weakened and watered down and used to describe every person’s convictions, rather than an absolute and unchanging reality. Thank you God that the truth is substantial, the Holy Spirit in my life is substantial, that when things come against the truth, the truth is not some fluffy thing that gives way, but is in fact that rock on which the waves break. The truth breaks lies, the truth breaks darkness, the truth breaks those things that come against me and come against what God has spoken over me.

God, please help me to walk with a right picture of the power of truth and the power of the Holy Spirit. Let those things that oppose me break on the truth of the Holy Spirit. Help me to draw upon the Holy Spirit and the truth of your Word when opposition comes. Thank you God that even in my weakness you are strong. Amen.

Written by Beth Waugh