Recently my grandson got his license. We faced the concerns of all parents and “grands”: safe driving, mature decisions, “where the hell is he?” We knew it was all part of growing up but we were worried. We found out “There’s an app for that.” Life360 is a marvelous app. Like most apps, you can get the basics or you can go premium. Through the app, you will know where the kid is, how much charge is on his phone (we’ve all heard the “My phone ran out of power” excuse.) and how he or she is driving. We know if he speeds, brakes too hard and what routes he takes. It’s marvelous. You can get it at the usual places depending on if you are an apple or android person. (Never thought I would be saying that.)
The app is comforting. It addresses our worries. The big surprise is that, although he probably won’t admit it, he feels consoled as well. Hell, it’s a scary and dangerous world out there especially if you are a teenager. It’s comforting to know someone who loves you is watching and will know if you get in an accident or do something stupid…or more stupid than usual.
The 360 app is based on circles, families or gangs, if you will. Everyone knows where everyone else is and what they are up to. It’s bonding really. If you are doing something that you don’t want folks who love you to know about…well maybe you should think again.
Jesus did the same thing. He knew he was sending his kids out in a world that would hate them, a dangerous world where his “best” kids would be the world’s worst enemies. They would need comfort, from above and from other kids of His.
When we become His he installs an app. He calls it The Comforter. I wish we just called him that instead of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit sounds like Casper the friendly ghost who sometimes goes to church.
The job of the Comforter is “to comfort.” Duh. It’s not to deceive or divide. He is rarely called upon to be dramatic or weird. Most of the time we don’t even notice He’s there. After all, the main function of a Comforter is to be there. When we are sick or distressed or worried or panicked, or harassed or think we are alone. He’s there. Sometimes He makes His presence known because we haven’t gotten used to Him to KNOW when He’s there. He might do a little miracle, something like that.
He’s especially comforting when we are so rattled we don’t know what to say or pray. He does it for us. He does it in a language we don’t even understand; just so we’ll know it’s Him. Jesus knew he would be upstairs with the Father and sometimes, as kids, we would need to be held. Mr. Comforter does that.
Satan has tried to make our Comforter scary and/or weird. He’s a liar. He (the Comforter not the devil) isn’t weird or scary. He is present, powerful and persistent. He doesn’t leave when we ignore him or frightened by what we think is him or are ignorant of Him and his ways.
When Jesus promises something He delivers. Our Comforter comforts. It’s like an app. I have lots of apps I have loaded on my phone but I’ve never opened them or found out what they can really do. The Comforter app is meant to be open and explored and used. We will never run of uses for him and He will never run out on us.
Got worry, fear, stress? Feeling inadequate, unloved, just dirty? There’s an app for that. An app that loves and never leaves. That’s some app.
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