I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper [Counselor; Advocate; the Holy Spirit] to be with you forever. [John 14:6 EXB]
Paraclete (parakletos in Greek) is used four times in John's gospel to communicate how the Holy Spirit comes to help, advise, comfort and encourage us. This word encapsulates what it means to have God with us. It also challenges us to be such a friend. Such a paraclete.
The word reminds me of how Job's friends came to him after all ten of his children died. These cried with Job. They sat in silence with him for a week. Their heart was to comfort their friend. Yet they strayed from their paracletic mission when they began to use their heads.
I think that the essence of being a paraclete is a heart thing. Mostly we comfort each other from within. We come along side of another with our hearts. We listen. We pray. We help. We become the body of Christ as we walk with friends who are hurting. Such is the way of a paraclete.
Open our eyes and our hearts Lord. That we might become your body to others.
... this devotion is part of the z2a bible words series.
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