“But the Counselor, 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.” (John 14:26, NIV)
As a high school golf coach, I can tell you I want most from my players when they are competing on the golf course. With them spread out across several holes, I cannot be everywhere at once and as you well know, things can turn quickly in this game. A birdie can be quickly followed by a tee shot into trouble.
So what is it I want from my players? Simply to remember what I have told them.
The catalog of information we accumulate in golf is thick. It includes details about a course and how it is to be played, philosophies of course management in different situations, and swing thoughts, some of which are altered mid-round depending on the shape and trajectory required for certain shots. Add to this that one of the hardest things to do under the pressure of competition is to draw up the right information at the appropriate time.
We might consider the Bible to be a hefty collection of items to remember as well. Do this, don’t do that. Even if we could obey every last instruction, we would have to remember them all first!
This becomes exceedingly important when we are talking about “the greatest of these,” which is love. If there is much to be done in loving God and loving others, how are we to remember it all? We don’t want to miss the mark in ignorance or forgetfulness.
Today’s passage is critical to our understanding of how we remember to love. All the mnemonic devices in the world can’t do the work of the Holy Spirit. Even if you were one of those exceptional people with what we call a photographic memory, times of difficulty will come and the pressure involved would cut into your ability to think clearly. But if the Holy Spirit resides in us, he reminds us of the many things Christ taught, including words just a few lines from this one in the Gospel of John: “Remain in my love” (John 15:9), “Love as I have loved you” (15:12), “This is my command: Love each other” (15:17).
We love best when we love as Jesus loved. And we are taught daily in this love by his Holy Spirit, who brings to mind the way of Christ’s love.
—
Jeff Hopper
June 12, 2015
Copyright 2015 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.