S(John 16:14) "I have said these things to you to keep you from falling away ... that when the hour comes you may remember that I told these to you ..."
O
In this chapter, Jesus revealed that He calculates what, when, and how He discloses information. Sometimes He spoke plainly; sometimes He disclosed Himself figuratively. Always, He calculated His revelations so whoever received His words would have fullness of joy in themselves (15:11; 17:13) and peace during terrible circumstances (16:33).
A (Personal)
From Jesus' words (16:25,29), I see the heart behind His informed consents. He gives me enough information to allow me real choices about whether to trust Him. Armed with this information, I now have a new set of options during tough times, which are inevitable ... and I can legitimately set my hopes on God.
A (Psychological)
People should be respected enough to be enabled to make their own decisions about their lives, even though I might be convinced I can to that better than they can. God doesn't usurp the rights and responsibilities He's given people ... dare I? My challenge, then is to calculate as best I can what is the healthiest amount of information clients need at any given moment, remembering that knowledge (disclosure) is progressive and cumulative. The next challenge of integrity is to inform people in a way that, over time and increased information, all disclosures square perfectly with truth.
P
Lord, thank You for speaking plainly and letting me know that even though I love and trust You, I'll still encounter tough days before I get to heaven. Thank You for being vague or specific, according to what You see is best for me. I trust You and I love You.
John 16: 14 indeed builds trust, in that Jesus, in this moment, establishes leadership in the relationship and projects a gentle and accepting understanding that the listener will eventually at least be tempted to "fall away". Professionally speaking, his approach builds authentic trust within the clear reality that a behavior will happen, but that there is something the listener(client) can do about it. He opens the door to free will and to responsibility. Effective parenting.
ReplyDeletePersonally, here he creates a safe place for me to choose, comforting me that he indeed knows my heart, and remains. That commitment, that he alone has provided, compels me to trust and love him more.