God Within Us: Expressing Jesus, Listening to the Spirit, and Revealing the Father's Glory.Sample

Sometimes we read the phrase "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" without considering the context of chapter 14. It can seem as though obedience is a way to prove our love. However, John, both in this passage and in his letters, emphasizes the opposite: "Love me, and then you will keep my commandments." Our faith allows us to overcome the world because we believe; therefore, we come to know and love, and as a result, we obey, which leads to our triumph.

Can you obey without truly loving? To some extent, yes, but this often leads to negative consequences and questionable motives. Can you love without obeying? Perhaps at first, but not for long.

This time, Jesus reflects the Spirit through His actions on Earth. We can encounter the Holy Spirit, who serves as our advocate and teacher—someone who not only lives within us but also manifests among us. The wonderful aspect of this is that, just as we can reach the Father through Jesus, we can also receive the Holy Spirit through Him. The Holy Spirit comes to us and is present in our midst. I believe we are not yet fully aware of how God sees us, which allows us to receive this incredible privilege. Once, a good friend asked me, "Do you know who the humblest person of the Trinity is?" He then answered, "The Holy Spirit, because He chose to dwell in our hearts and among us, ordinary humans."

In this scene, some people describe who Jesus was to them, yet they cannot fully recognize who He really is. Fortunately, through the Holy Spirit, we can understand more about the true nature of Jesus, going beyond just the historical figure. This invites Christians to ask profound questions, guided by the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. For instance: Who is Jesus to me? Does the image I have of Him reflect who He truly is? Am I forming my understanding based on my own intentions or through His revelation?

Proverbs 25:2 states, "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter
and the glory of kings to investigate a matter." Through the Holy Spirit, we gain the ability to recognize God even in our darkest and most challenging moments, discovering that His presence is more valuable than any earthly blessing.

The Holy Spirit can teach us more about Jesus. Let us not miss the incredible opportunity to deepen our knowledge of God through prayer. Consider making this prayer your own: "Holy Spirit, my God, I want to know Jesus beyond what I seek for my own needs. Speak to me and show me the God who longs to reveal Himself in my life." Let’s learn to listen to His voice.