When I was growing up, I used to see my siblings doing chores, such as mowing the lawn in the summer or shovelling the sidewalks in winter. Like most small children, my turn came when I I matured and was able to physically do those chores.
Then as a teenager, two of my chores were to wash the supper dishes Monday to Friday, vacuum the rugs at least once a week and mow the lawn once a week in the summer. When I was in this teenage phase, I usually dragged my heels when it came to doing these two of these chores. I enjoyed mowing the lawn, but the other two chores were burdensome to me. I would feel guilty and get in trouble if I didn't do these chores.
Whenever I took short cuts, I would always be found out, and guilt would motivate me not to take short cuts the next time. Getting in trouble with my father would motivate me to do those chores the next time. Going through the reaction of frustration from my stepmother would motivate me. I wasn't freely doing these chores with joy. These chores were a chore to me, and guilt seemed to be the only motivating factors for me.
John, who was a disciple of Jesus, said in the John 14:26, "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you" (NIV). So how does the Holy Spirit remind us of the all the things that Jesus taught? A few verses later in John 16: 8, John wrote, "And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment" (NLT). This tells us that the way Holy Spirit reminds us of what Jesus taught was to convict, which is a form of guilt. It's not an unhealthy guilt, but a conviction to do what your supposed to do as a follower of Jesus and His ways.
Then another question that comes about when reading John 14:26 is: "What are all the things that Jesus taught?"
When we back up, we see what John wrote in John 1 about Jesus always having existed, about Jesus being God, and about Jesus being the very word of God. That means that the things we are to do are all the teachings in His word. God the Father sent Jesus into the world, to dwell with us and teach us His Father's ways. The Holy Spirit reminds us, and convicts us of the actions, thoughts, and behaviors that we're supposed to do that have to do with the righteousness of God, because when our lives are over, we will be judged according to what we did and didn't do.
When I was a child and teenager, it seemed, guilt was the only thing that motivated me, but I believe it was the Holy Spirit reminding me and convicting me to do what my parents were asking me to do. Then, later in life, I experienced the same feelings when I was wrestling with something I knew I was supposed to be doing. I was being reminded of the actions and thoughts that are lined up with Jesus-to stay away from certain people and situations that would lead to trouble and giving into temptation.
These situations that caused a lot of trouble in my life that would last for years to come. I have endured the consequences of bad choices that have affected my life, my wife's life, and my children's lives. God gave me a new lease on my life that I started to experience and embrace about 20 years ago, when I stopped binge drinking and sobered up all together. Yet, this new lease was delayed because of my sin. It was delayed because I didn't react to the Holy Spirit's convictions.
Later in life, changes for the better were set into motion, according to the things Jesus taught me in His Word, because I was reminded and convicted of my sin in attitude and behavior. Through the Holy Spirit, God gets our attention when we are going the wrong way. He doesn't do this because He's a God up in the heavens looking down on us with a sledgehammer, waiting to punish us. He is a God who wants to heal our hearts from the hurts we have accumulated throughout our lives. This is how our hearts are healed through a healthy form of guilt. This healthy form of guilt will always lead us to a healthier way to live-a life lived according to all that Jesus taught us. In Jesus name I pray this for my life and the readers.
Parry Stelter is a doctoral candidate with Providence University and Seminary in Contextual Leadership. He is an active member of his home church in Stony Plan, AB, Canada. He also offers workshop on dealing with grief, loss and intergenerational trauma, amongst other workshops. Visit his website at wordofhopeministries.ca to learn more about this ministry and all the resources.
