"The Spirit of truth . . . dwells with you and will be in you."
John 14:17
A college student made an appointment to visit a local pastor. He explained to him that he was doing a research paper on the world's major religions. He wanted to ask questions about the Christian religion. He said, "How can you be sure that the Christian religion has the truth?" The pastor answered, "Only the Spirit of truth can convince someone of the truth of Jesus Christ. I invite the Spirit of God to lead me into all truth."
The student didn't understand. He wanted to know how the Spirit of truth worked in him. The pastor said, "When I received Christ by faith, the Spirit of truth came to live within me. He had convinced me that Christ is the truth. He uses the Bible to guide me into all truth." The student returned for several visits. He came to trust Christ as the truth for his life.
Left to ourselves, we would have never believed the truth about Jesus Christ. Because of sin, our minds were blinded to the truth (2 Cor. 4:4). The Spirit of truth convicts us and convinces us about the truth in Christ (John 16:7-11). The Spirit of truth leads us to change our minds. We see our need for Christ. Grace precedes our conversion. God's grace through the Spirit of truth shows us the truth according to the Bible. That grace leads us to Christ. The Spirit of truth is also known as the Spirit of grace (Hebrews 10:29).
If you are not sure of your faith in Christ, ask God's Spirit to open your eyes of understanding to the truth as you read the Bible. If you want to grow in your faith, ask the Spirit of truth to lead you to understand more and more as you read the Bible. If you are praying for someone who is not a believer in Christ, pray that the Spirit of truth will convict and convince that person of the truth in Christ.
Father, lead us to know the truth through the Holy Spirit.
