The Gift That Keeps on Giving – Today’s Family Devotion

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Bible Reading: John 14:15-18

He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.   John 14:17

It’s done! Your spanking-new invention looks a lot like a iPod, so you call it “iTruth.” You clip the control box to your belt and slip the headphones over your ears. The rest of the world thinks you’re listening to tunes. But this is no MP3 player, you think proudly. This is one rockin’ righteousness machine. In every situation it tells me through my headphones what’s right and true.

On your way to school you’re about to cross the street against the “Don’t Walk” sign when you hear a voice through the headphones: “Romans 13:1-2 says we should obey the laws of the land. This is God’s way of protecting you from getting hurt.” iTruth works! You decide to wait for the “Walk” sign.

Hustling through the crowded hall, you bump into another student. “Leper!” he snarls at you. iTruth reminds you, “You’re no loser. John 1:12 says you are God’s child.” You feel an instant lift.

In social studies your teacher drops a pop quiz on you. No worry. You sit next to geography genius Lynn Brazil. As you glance toward Lynn’s paper, iTruth says, “One of the Ten Commandments is ‘Do not steal,’ and that applies to quiz answers.” You snap your eyes back to your paper.

Things don’t work so well after lunch. During a basketball game in phys ed, your teammate fumbles the ball. With iTruth stashed on the sidelines, nothing stops you from blasting him. Later you drop iTruth. As an angry thought rumbles in your brain, all you hear is “Bleeble … zok … gooby… hazzit… snork.” And when your mom asks if you have your homework done, iTruth’s batteries are dead. You say “Almost, Mom” when you haven’t even started. So much for your invention.

Having something like iTruth would be great—if it worked. But you already have something way better! It’s the Holy Spirit living inside you. He helps you understand and apply God’s truth to your everyday life. In fact, Jesus often calls the Holy Spirit the “Spirit of truth” (John 15:26).

Unlike iTruth, the Holy Spirit can’t get lost, broken, or run out of batteries. He lives inside every believer—including you (see John 14:17). And you won’t ever find the Holy Spirit on the sidelines, because Jesus said his gift “will never leave you” (John 14:16). Moment by moment, day by day, the Holy Spirit hangs to you tighter than headphones, ready to share God’s truth with you.

TALK: How do you respond when the Holy Spirit tries to teach you truth?

PRAY: God, thanks for giving us the Holy Spirit to teach us.

ACT: Let the Holy Spirit convince you that it’s a good idea to put some truth in your head the old-fashioned way. Memorize a favorite verse today!