Jesus Teaches Tenderly

John 16:12–13 (ESV) “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

During the long discourse in the upper room, Jesus starts to realize He is startling his disciples. He is speaking of their future, the persecution sure to come, the hatred of others they will bear, and to top it all off, His leaving them to do the work.

But in the middle of this discourse, he lets them in one a teaching secret of our Great Shepherd. He doesn't try to overwhelm us. He says what we are able to bear. He is a caring preacher and leader of His flock. 

What does this say about us?
There are things God wants to say that we aren't ready for. There are life changing truths that God is not yet revealing. We should be longing for them. We should be desiring truth. And while we may not be ready for it yet, we have to understand there is more to see and know of God than we can imagine.

What does this say about God?
He is willing to work with us. He doesn't have to do this. After all, He is God. He could overwhelm us in a flood of shortcomings us in a second. Yet He has chosen to lovingly reveal the things we are able to handle. Instead of forcing it down our throats, God is kind enough to hold back.

There is give and take with God. He is willing to put up with our shortcomings in order to lead us at the right pace. And the Holy Spirit has been sent to guide us into all this truth. It's the same word used in apocryphal literature that refers to the pillar of fire that led the Israelites day by day in the wilderness. God patiently leading His people. 

The Lord is truly our Shepherd.

PRAYER:
Father, I want to be open to what you want to say. I ask for my heart to be receptive and changed by Your Word, daily. In Jesus' Name, Amen.