As followers of Jesus Christ, I believe we all struggle at times with a clear understanding of how we can be certain that we are following the lead of the Holy Spirit in our lives. I found the following devotional by James Banks to be helpful. I hope you will to.
Our Daily Bread - Who’s Driving? – Nov 12, 2018
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25
READ ROMANS 6:1–14
My neighbor Tim has a figurine on his dashboard of a “wild thing” based on Maurice Sendak’s beloved children’s book Where the Wild Things Are.
Not long ago Tim was following me through traffic and made some abrupt moves to keep up. When we arrived, I asked, “Was that the ‘wild thing’ driving?”
The following Sunday I forgot my sermon notes at home. I “flew” out of the church to retrieve them, passing Tim along the way. When we met later, he joked, “Was that the wild thing driving?” We laughed, but his point hit home—I should have paid attention to the speed limit.
When the Bible describes what it means to live in a relationship with God, it encourages us to “offer every part of [ourselves]” to Him (Romans 6:13). I took Tim’s response to me that day as a gentle reminder from God to yield my “lead foot,” because I am to give all of myself to Him out of love.
The question of “who’s driving?” applies to all of life. Do we let the “wild things” of our old sin nature drive us—like worry, fear, or self-will—or do we yield to God’s loving Spirit and the grace that helps us grow?
Giving in to God is good for us. Scripture says that God’s wisdom takes us down “pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace” (Proverbs 3:17). Better to follow where He leads. By James Banks
REFLECT & PRAY
What God requires He also inspires.
Loving Lord, thank You for the grace You give us to obey You, and the peace You give us as we stay near.
INSIGHT
Paul dismisses the notion that God’s grace permits us to do whatever we want. In fact, he finds the idea preposterous (Romans 6:2). God’s grace frees us to choose life in Him. That’s why Paul says, “Offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness” (v. 13).
Today, what do I need to offer to God?
Tim Gustafson