THIS MUTUAL ABIDING is seen in another passage. Of the Holy Spirit it is said: “I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth . . . for he dwells with you, and will be in you” (John 14:16–17). Here the Holy Spirit is in you and yet He is a counselor. The word “counselor” is the paraclete, made up of two words: para =beside and kalein —to call; the One who is called alongside you, to counsel with you, giving wisdom and guidance. The older translation—“Comforter”—pieces out the meaning of the “Counselor,” for Comforter is derived from con = with and fortis = strength; One who strengthens you by being with you. So He imparts not only counsel—verbal direction—He also imparts vital strength to all our faculties by being with us. His strength becomes our strength; His wisdom becomes our wisdom; His purity our purity; His creativity our creativity.
Yesterday I met a completely transformed woman. She and her husband had kept a gambling house with all the accoutrements in Louisiana for two and a half years. She became an alcoholic to escape from herself—and her past. Now she is a radiant person, her home the center of youth, and her touch on life a creative touch. Conversion did it. The Holy Spirit is in her, but He is also beside her, counseling her, imparting His own strength and love and power, making her a person—a creative person. Her touch on life was destructive, now it is constructive. She is not absorbed into the divine—she is absorbing the divine into the human and making that human creative. Yet she knows where she belongs—at His feet. Being at His feet she stands straight before everything. She is being created, and she is creative. The redeemed become the redeeming.
My Lord and my Life, I thank Thee that Thou art making me a living soul and a life-giving spirit. The more Thou dost abide in me the more I want to abide in Thee. As Thou dost make me, the more I want to make Thee Lord! I thank Thee. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: Have I passed from the “with” stage to the “in” stage? If not before, then now!
