Advent Day 14

These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:25-27)

The Spirit stokes our memory, bringing to remembrance what Christ has said and done. In this way, the Spirit works like your grandparents looking through a photo album as they explain the past through the pictures, unpacking your story for you and reminding you who you are. Rather than photos, however, the Spirit uses promises, the promises of Jesus. And by the Spirit’s work, we know God better because we hear God speak to us and recall what he has spoken to us.

The Spirit brings peace. This isn’t peace like the world gives. This isn’t some moment of quiet or escape from the normal conflict of life below. This peace is solid and lasting. This peace transcends all the conflict of life here, surpassing understanding. This peace is a gift: it’s the forgiveness of sins and reconciliation; it’s peace that casts out fear. It’s what people seek this time of year.

It’s been said if you want to find someone’s idol, you should follow their fears. What do you fear? Follow the fears, and you’ll find the idols. And so the Spirit casts out fear of men, our instinctual, frightened, presentist fear, and replaces it with the fear of God, which is faith, which knows its beginning, middle, and end already. The Spirit won’t let us be afraid because the Spirit won’t let us let go of Christ, who will never let go of us. This is peace.

This doesn’t mean we never tremble or have late nights. We’re saints and sinners. The old Adam will trust anyone but God and seek peace anywhere but where it’s found. The Spirit gives the old Adam hell, though. The Spirit stokes our memory. The Spirit helps us with our needs. And we always know where to find the Spirit because God has bound himself to the means of grace and thus to us. The Spirit comes through Word and sacrament, on the lips of preachers and Christian friends, with bread, wine, and water.

Have you been living in fear or peace? Find God where he’s promised to be; where he reveals himself in the advent of Christ. Remember what Christ has said and done. Take heart. Cling to Christ. Be taught. Be absolved. Be at peace as your idols are toppled and the true God, by the Spirit, declares you his own, again and again, until glory. This is why Christ was born in the first place.

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