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"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.."
"John 14:26
Devotional
There never came from the lips of our blessed Savior more remarkable words of grace.
The Paraclete is promised to the disciples. The Holy Ghost is by this name designated an advocate, a monitor, an intercessor, and a consoler.
Let us note that this promised visitant was to come in Christ's stead, that is, in His name and place. We turn to the Gospels to see what the presence of Jesus meant to the disciples. He was the source of all their hope and consolation. They saw His countenance. They witnessed His mighty works. They heard Him speak as never man spake. They enjoyed His love. Over them was His continual protection. His hand was always stretched forth to help in time of need.
Now what the actual presence of Jesus meant to the disciples, the presence of the Comforter would mean to them. All that they had in the personal presence of Christ while He tarried among them they would have in the presence with them of the Holy Spirit. "I go away," He said, but they would not lose by His departure but would rather gain. Fully, gloriously, and increasingly, the divine Paraclete would supply to disciples the place of a present Jesus. Rich and blessed was the condition of those who walked with Him in the way but richer and more blessed is the state of everyone who is now truly united to Christ.
"Think what Spirit dwells within thee.
What a Father's smile is thine,
What a Savior died to win thee:
Child of heaven, shouldst thou repine?"
He who was promised by the Son would come from the Father, who is the fount of all excellency, the God of all grace and redemption. What an insight this affords the devout believer into the glory and harmony of the Divine Persons in the Godhead.
The Holy Spirit is not a creature, nor a power, nor an effluence, nor an agency, but a co-equal and co-eternal Person in the Divine being. He is the Spirit of the Father and the Son. Out of an eternal and ineffable love, the Father, the fountain of redeeming mercy, sends the Holy Spirit to complete the work of grace in believers which was procured for us in Christ's atoning death.
(to be continued)
"Lift Up Your Heart" is a series of devotionals by the late Rev. David Freeman, an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church for most of his life. These devotionals, in fact, are part of the early history of our denomination. The first of them was published in The Presbyterian Guardian in 1935; the denomination now known as the Orthodox Presbyterian Church was officially formed in 1936. We believe that "the Word of our God stands forever" (Isaiah 40:8; see 1 Peter 1:25). Thus it is no surprise that meditations based on that Word have continued relevance today. Dr. Freeman's devotionals are proof of that fact.
David Freeman was a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary (Th.B., 1928; Th.M. , 1930) and of Dropsie Univiersity (Ph.D., 1951). He served as pastor at Grace (later New Covenant) Presbyterian Church (OPC), Philadelphia, PA (1936-1946), Knox Presbyterian Church (OPC), Philadelphia, PA (1949-1962), and Grace Presbyterian Church (OPC), Fall River, MA (1962-1967). He authored many articles and (along with his son, David H. Freeman) is the author of the book A Philosophical Study of Religion, which appeared in 1964. He went to be with the Lord in 1984.
There is one change from the way the daily devotional was handled in the past with John Skilton's Think On These Things: New devotionals for the new series appear on weekdays only (Monday through Saturday. It is suggested that you use your pastor's sermon text(s) as the basis for your mediations on the Lord's Day.
We trust that you will find these devotionals, once again made available seventy years after they first appeared, to be a personal help in your own Christian walk today!
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