8 SEPTEMBER

THE PROMISE (THE BOOKS)

“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:16, NKJV)

When I became a parent, I realised some things that might have been quite challenging for my parents. My parents were both very focused on giving their children all–round education to the best of their ability. By our mid–primary school, they started buying novels for us to read, with the promise that they would buy new ones, as soon as those were read. To their surprise it took just a few days.

One day, I overheard them discussing that, at this rate, their resources would finish on books but a promise made had to be kept. Eventually and very fortunately, there was another solution. They registered us at the Enugu* Government Library, where we found very interesting and voluminous books to borrow, read and return. I can remember reading up all the Enid Blyton series, the Fairy Tales series, and so on.

Now we come to the promise of our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ, of sending a Helper, which He fulfilled on Pentecost day, as recorded in Acts 2. For us who believe and know Jesus, we have a Helper, a Teacher, a Comforter and a Guide, in the person of the Holy Spirit. He dwells with us and in us, to guide us into all truth and to disclose to us what is to come. How wonderful! With His help we can live in truth and victory. Alleluia!

Just as the promise of the books were fulfilled, such that the more we read the more we got, so also the more we obey the revealed truths of God, the more opportunities are opened to us for greater works through the power of the Holy Spirit, to God’s glory and honour.

ACTION: Get more acquainted with the Person of the Holy Spirit, so as to fully partake of the boundless blessings He brings into the believer’s life.

PRAYER: Father God, please make me faithful and change my weaknesses and timidity into strength and courage, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

*Enugu was the capital of one of the three regions (the Eastern Region) of Nigeria in the 1960’s but now the capital of one the 36 States of Nigeria.