The Holy Spirit

"But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. Instead, you grieve because of what I've told you. But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don't, the Advocate won't come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world's sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, 'The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.' "
John 16:5-15

I was thinking about blogging about something completely different today. Then I found this scripture and I LOVED it. I love reading the Bible and finding something that strikes a chord in my heart and helps me to understand a new truth, or a truth I already know in a new way.
This scripture reminded me of a few
things. One of them is related to spiritual gifts. I'm afraid of my spiritual gifts being rejected by other people.
I fear that they'll look at me, and my past and think, "yeah, right, we're not going to listen to HER." I'm afraid I've thought the same thing sometimes, rejecting truth because of the package it comes in.
Well, the real truth is that the Holy Spirit uses all kinds of "packages". None of us are perfect, but that doesn't matter because God IS perfection. And that's where the holy spirit comes from. So our "gifts" aren't our own, they are the work of the holy spirit THROUGH us. So when we are "rejected" it isn't us that's being rejected, it's the spirit.
Isn't it sad that people are so willing to write off someone who might have an incredible truth to share just because of our preconceived notions about them?
For example, say I know someone who puts on a really good front. She seems like an amazing, loving, caring person. She IS that person, but not all the time. She can also be nasty and manipulative, and dishonest. So my
knee jerk reaction when I hear that she, in her caring, loving state, has inspired people, is to turn up my nose and think, "HER! But I've SEEN the way she is, she's so fake." But the inspiration she instills in other people IS real. Why can't the holy spirit choose to work through her just because she has some less than desirable qualities. I don't know what is going on in her heart. I believe we are all convicted of our attitudes/sins, but why can't the spirit work through us while we're still growing? Doesn't it say something about the character and greatness of God that he uses the imperfect? Although, who else does he have to work with since we're all far from perfect? We're all molded by our maker, but in this world none of us are immune to a few cracks or chips.
One more thing I'll share is that when I read this I was just struck by how LITTLE we humans know. Jesus even says it here, they weren't ready to hear
anymore. How confused those disciples must have been. Were they expecting an "Advocate" in human form? What did they think when they received tongues of fire?? Basically my thought is, who are we to question? We can't see the bigger picture, but He can. Isn't faith believing and trusting what we can't see? I know it might be hard to believe, but that's why I'm ok in the face of uncertainty, because I know that it's all part of a bigger picture that I may not understand right now, but I will someday.