John 16:12-15 (NRSV)
Read John 16:12-15 on biblegateway.com
Verse 12"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. Verse 13When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. Verse 14He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. Verse 15All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Devotion
When Jesus is on trial and is brought before Pilate, Jesus says, "For this I was born, ... to testify to the truth" (John 18:37). When Pilate then asks, "What is truth?" Jesus doesn't answer. The question just hangs there. Pilate, looking Truth in the eye, still could not see. Perhaps it was the wrong question. The issue was not "what?" but "who?"
It is not right doctrine that saves, nor belonging to the right denomination that defines the truth. We will differ as Christians on a whole bunch of stuff, but none of that stuff is finally the truth. Jesus sets us free to disagree with each other and free to hold a variety of opinions on a variety of subjects. Our oneness, our hope, our salvation, our faith is in him. So we can rest back in the love of God, knowing we need not find cause to justify ourselves, for we are justified already by the grace of God through faith in Jesus, who is our truth.
Prayer
Spirit of truth, may my life also glorify Jesus. May my words and my deeds make life better for those who share this time and place with me. Amen.