| The Beauty of Self Control |
Chapter 7 |
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But you know that he always stands by you. You know that if ever you need him in any way and turn to him, he will not fail you nor disappoint you; that if you do not see him for months, or even for years, nor hear from him, and if you then should go to him with some question or some appeal, you will find him unchanged, the same staunch, strong, faithful friend as always. Though your circumstances have changed, from wealth to poverty, from influence to powerlessness, from popular favour to obscurity, from strength to weakness, still your friend is the same, stands by you as he did before, meets you with the old cordiality, the old kindness, the old helpfulness. Your friend is one who stands by you. That is the kind of friend the Holy Spirit is. You are sure he is always the same, always faithful and true.
Jesus said the Father would give “another Comforter,” that is, one like Jesus himself. He was and advocate for his disciples, who always stood by them, their comrade, their defender, and their shelter in danger. His friendship was unchanged through the years. “Loved once” was never said of him. Having loved, he loved unto the end. His disciples failed him, grieved him, disappointed him, but when they came back to him they found him the same, waiting to receive them. Peter denied him in the hour of his deepest need, saying he did not know him; but when Jesus was risen again, the first one of his disciples he asked for was Peter, and when Peter found him, he was still standing by, the same dear, loyal friend. Now he said that they would receive another comforter when he was gone. He wanted them to understand that he was not really going away from them. They would not see his face, would not feel any hands, but he would be there, as he always had been – still standing by. They would lose nothing by his going away. Indeed he would not be gone from them at all. In the Paraclete he would still be with them and would still be their Comforter, their Comrade.
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