LETTING HIM LEAD

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© God’s Breath Publications

 

1 John 2:6

“Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.”

 

A guide can serve in many different ways. A fishing guide leads you down a river or stream to find all the best fishing holes. His value to the fisherman is not only his knowledge of where the fish are, but where dangerous areas of the river are located that might swamp or capsize the boat. The fishing guide also knows the best bait to use at specific locations during certain seasons of the year. The success of getting a limit of fish is dependant on how knowledgeable the fishing guide is. It would be an egotistical and dumb fisherman who did not listen and follow the recommendations of his fishing guide.

 

A hunting guide functions in a similar manner. He may specialize in a specific species of animal such as bear, deer or elk. A hunter will greatly value the knowledge possessed by a good hunting guide. Such a guide will know the behavior of animals as well as where they frequent for food and shelter. Such a guide can be relied upon to know safe trails to use. He will know how to read the signs of nature and can determine how weather will influence the hunt. Again, it would be a foolish hunter who did not listen to the advice and direction of a hunting guide.

 

Guides are numerous in our society. We have teachers who are guides in educating our children. We have technicians who guide us in how to use and service our numerous types of computers and appliances. We have accountants who guide us in making financial decisions. We have doctors who care for us, but also instruct and guide us in how to care for ourselves. We even have politicians who strive to guide us in how we should govern ourselves under law. Wherever there is a need we seem to have a qualified guide to lead us down the correct path. The Christian life is no different.

 

Christians have numerous guides to help them live spiritually. We have God’s inspired Word which serves as a guidebook in how to live according to the will of God. We have our brothers and sisters in the Lord who share our burdens, pray for us, offer wise counsel and guide us in how to conduct our lives as fellow believers. We have pastors who study God’s Word and teach us how to live as servants of our Master, Jesus Christ. But, there is one guide in our Christian life we often ignore or take for granted. He is the Holy Spirit.

 

When a sinner accepts Christ as their Savior, a marvelous miracle happens. Yes, sins are forgiven, eternal life is bestowed, a new creature is spiritually born, but possibly most miraculous of all is that God Himself in the form of the Holy Spirit comes to live within this new child of God (1 Corinthians 2:12,1 Corinthians 3:16).

 

How this happens is a mystery and we probably couldn’t understand it even if we were told how it is accomplished. It is important to know that the Holy Spirit lives within us, but possibly it is even more important to know the reason He lives within us. It is crucial for us to understand as servants of Christ, the purpose for which the Holy Spirit lives within us is to be our guide. The Bible is vitally important to us in our spiritual life but the Holy Spirit guides us in understanding what is written in scripture (1 Corinthians 2:10-15). Wise counsel from other Christians is helpful, but it can be imperfect or inadequate at times. The Holy Spirit guides us with perfect counsel in God’s truth (John 14:15-17, 16:13). He helps us in our weakness and He intercedes on our behalf (Romans 8:26-27). He verifies that we are a child of God (Romans 8:15-17). He gives us specific spiritual gifts to be used to minister to others in the Body of Christ, the church (1 Corinthians 12:11). He is instrumental in the process of our spiritual growth called sanctification (2 Thessalonians 2:13). He gives us power to love and discipline ourselves for living a holy life (2 Timothy 1:7). The Holy Spirit is a highly qualified spiritual guide because He is God.

 

Just as it would be foolish for a fisherman or hunter to ignore the instruction of their guide, it would be equally unwise for us to ignore the guidance offered by the Holy Spirit for holy living. Romans 8:6 tells us that when the mind of a Christian is controlled by the Spirit of God they will possess a life of peace. The goal of the Christian is to live a Spirit-filled life, a Spirit-controlled life. When we let the Spirit guide and lead in our life the fruit of the Holy Spirit will manifest as it states in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

 

It would be insulting to a professional guide, a teacher, a doctor, and a technician to ignore their expert advice in a matter associated with their expertise. It is even more insulting to the Holy Spirit to ignore His perfect and truthful advice in the matters of spiritual living. When we disobey God and His Holy Spirit within us we grieve Him. Ephesians 4:29 commands us to avoid grieving the Holy Spirit. If we are going to follow the narrow path of the Christian life, we must let the Holy Spirit lead us. There’s a chorus to an old hymn that says,

 

Where He leads me I will follow,

Where He leads me I will follow,

Where He leads me I will follow,

I’ll go with Him, with Him, all the way.

 

We should live our Christian lives following the Holy Spirit as our guide. Wherever He leads, we should follow.

 

Traversing the cliffs and crevasses of Mt. Everest requires an expert guide. Living a holy life, obedient to the wishes and will of our Heavenly Father requires an equally expert guide, the Holy Spirit. Let the Holy Spirit lead in your life. Follow Him down the path God has called you to walk. Get to know His voice. Be sensitive to His advice. See Him guide you in all manner of righteous living.

 

Galatians 5:25

“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”