LED BY THE SPIRIT

"Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8:12-17)

Devotion 9 of 20

LEADING DOES NOT PRECLUDE JUDGMENT
Not a substitute for judgment

Divine guidance is not a substitute for human judgement, nor does it involve the overriding of the will. Jesus was guided in what He said, yet His judgment was involved. "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and My judgment is just; because I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me" (John 5:30). Notice, the Lord Jesus confessed His reliance upon the Father. The judgment He expressed came from Him, yet was in accord with the Father. In no way did the judgments of Christ exclude His mind. His thoughts were involved, together with His will.

There is a strain of theology that views divine guidance independently of the understanding. Those enamored of such nonsense imagine that men speak as robots, without the involvement of their mind and judgment. No man of God ever so spake! True prophets were affected by the judgments they pronounced, often weeping (Neh 1:4; Jer 9:10; Rev 5:4). Prophets endured "burdens" when they pronounced prophetic judgements; i.e., their persons were involved in their prophecies. Thus we read of "the burden of Moab" (Isa 15:1), "the burden of Damascus" (Isa 17:1), "the burden of Egypt" (Isa 19:1), "the burden of Tyre" (Isa 23:1), and "the burden of Nineveh" (Nah 1:1). The word of the prophets came from the Lord, yet they entered into it, perceiving significance in what they said.

Be attentive!

Concerning the origin of Scripture, it is written, "So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God" (2 Pet 1:19 21, NRSV).

There are several significant things to see here. First, believers are admonished to "be attentive" to the Word "until the day dawns." Divine guidance (the day dawning), and human involvement (be attentive) are thus joined together. Second, prophecy, or the inspired message, did not spring from the human will. Rather "holy men" (KJV) spoke as they were constrained by God's Spirit. I prefer the King James Version "holy men" over "men," as seen in the NIV, RSV, and NASV. The original words used here are hagios (holy) and anthropos (men). "Holy men" are those whose hearts and minds are involved. Their judgment is employed, even though their message came from God. Suffice it to say, being led by God does not obviate the involvement of the mind.

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant me to have sound judgment that is in perfect harmony with both Your Word and Your will.

-- TOMORROW: GUIDED BY HIS EYE --