“This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Jeremiah 6:16 NIV)
Life has decisions to make, doesn’t it? In some seasons of life the decisions are more life-impacting (who should you marry?) and in some seasons the decisions are overwhelmingly plentiful (ever planned a wedding?). But every day we have decisions to make that range from the basically unimportant (blue towel or brown towel?) to those that cumulate (two cookies or three?). While not every decision carries the import of who am I to marry? or how do I serve God?, we have a Helper who can help us make good, God-honoring decisions: Holy Spirit. In 2 Corinthians 13:14 (NLT) Paul blesses his readers with grace, love, and fellowship: “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” That “fellowship” of Holy Spirit is called “communion” in some translations, and “the intimate friendship” in The Message translation. Who better to help us make decisions, than the Advocate, sent in the Father’s name, who is to teach us all things and remind us of everything Jesus said to us?
The realities of this world give us plenty of opportunities to make decisions. How do we serve God? How do we treat other people? What voices in friends/family, media, entertainment, etc. do we listen to? How do we judge what is of the Lord and what is of the enemy? Paul tells us that Holy Spirit’s presence within us will help us to make those decisions:
“What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:12-16 NIV)
When we have the mind of Christ and are guided fully by Holy Spirit, we can be discerning about who/what we listen to, about who we choose for friends, and about how we serve God. We can judge whether something is of the Lord or of the enemy. It’s easy – but unwise – to take a verse like, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged,” (Matthew 7:1 NIV) and apply it to all situations. You and I can’t judge a person’s salvation and eternity. We can judge the external view of their spiritual life by what we see as their fruits, but only God can judge a person’s heart. However, we must continually be judging ideas. This is part of having God’s wisdom. When Jesus taught on judging he expected us to know the difference between God and evil. “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” (Matthew 7:6 NIV) Know what ideas in this world are pearls and which are not.
God will judge us someday based on the fruit in our lives. So, let us live lives where Holy Spirit helps us judge what is of God and what is not so we attain God’s wisdom and blessing.
All-Wise God,
Thank you for the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Thank you that you remind us of what Jesus taught us and you continue to teach us all things. Thank you for your Word and your Spirit which help us to make decisions at every crossroad of life. Help us know which ideas in this world are pearls and which are not, and help us live lives whose decisions honor you. Grant us wisdom, courage, discernment, and peace as we seek you each day. We ask for your blessings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
“The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26 NIV)
“The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you.” (2 Corinthians 13:14 MSG)
h/t Tim Cross (4/30/23)