Being Led by the Spirit
by Paul Black
What does to mean to be “led” by the Holy Spirit? If I'm honest with myself, in my daily life I tend to think that being led by the Spirit is when He leads me into a “divine appointment” of some kind, but then for the rest of the day I’m in complete control. However, I really don’t believe that we as followers of Christ have even scratched the surface of what being “led by the Spirit” actually means. The Apostle Paul wrote this verse in Romans 8:14 (NASB)
“For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God”
The word “led” in this passage is the Greek word “ἄγω”; ago, which means to “lead, lead away, bring (a person, or animal), guide, spend a day, go, carry.” Think of one walking a dog and leading it where it wants it to go. The word “sons” in the Greek word “uios” meaning “mature sons.” If we put the two thoughts together then it means we are walking in maturity or perfection when we are cognizant of His abiding presence and leading every moment of every day.
I’m reminded of an incident that happened to a friend of mine. She was late for church one Sunday morning and was racing to get there. She felt the prompting of the Holy Spirit to stop at a 7-11 and get a coffee. However she thought “No Lord, if I stop, I’ll be even later than I want to be.” As she sailed through the next intersection, she was hit broadside by an eighteen wheeler and spent the next six months recovering in hospital. It taught her to be obedient to those inner promptings of the Holy Spirit.
God’s lessons can be hard sometimes. However, His purpose is not to hurt or wound us, but to have complete control and direction of our daily lives moment by moment. God wants to be my source not just in the big things but also the smallest areas of my life. This takes real discipline in the retraining of our minds to be controlled by the Spirit of God. If we begin to live in such a degree, we will never have to be afraid of any circumstance because every circumstance is part of His plan to help me mature in my walk in Him.
Jesus, the first-born of many brethren said this about Himself in John 5:19 (NASB)
“Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.”
God’s eternal purpose is for the image of His Son to be seen in many brethren. Therefore, “Lord, we ask that you train us up in You that we become so “knowing” of your daily leading and directing in our lives so that we can be confident that we are indeed becoming mature sons because we’re being led by You.”
Have an awesome day!!!