Transformed – teen devotion – June 4, 2022

One truth shared: The Holy Spirit works both in us and through us according to God’s Holy Word.

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
John 14:23-27

The Spirit Marches Victorious Through the Word

Shortly before his suffering and death, Jesus encouraged his disciples saying, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:2-3). He did suffer. He did die. He did come back to life. And—forty days later—he ascended into heaven.

That’s not the end of the story, however. A week and a half after ascending, we see God send his Holy Spirit on Christ’s followers, equipping them for the work that lay ahead for them.

That truth is what we celebrate on the Day of Pentecost. While living at a different time and place, this same Holy Spirit equips us for the work our gracious God has given us to carry out. It was not just to the Twelve, but also the massive crowds of all who call on the name of Jesus as Savior that he said, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

The Holy Spirit does indeed work both in us and through us according to God’s holy Word. His means of grace—the Gospel found in Scripture and the Sacraments—are the tools that have been given us to both come and see the goodness of God and then to go and tell of this goodness to others.

Doing all that can be hard work. Sharing Christ with others can present challenges and pitfalls. In the midst of all of these things, we hear Jesus say to us, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (vs. 27).

What a promise these words bring! What assurance! As we close out this series titled “Victorious,” we realize that this is exactly who we are and what we have in Christ Jesus. We need look no further to find this truth than in God’s holy Word, which the Holy Spirit uses to march victorious each and every day of life and for all eternity.

Prayer: Come Holy Spirit. Come into my heart and guide me through my life. Fill me with your holy Word and strengthen me to take on the challenges of this world with the good news of Jesus, my Savior. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
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