Follow His Lead
John 16: 12 is one of my favorite passages of scripture. Jesus said to his disciples on his last night with them:
I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit comes, he will guide you into all truth…”
Just as the disciples that night were not ready to learn all that the Spirit had to teach them, so we are not always ready to learn of the ways of God in our current age. Yet, learning is crucial for the People of God in every age.
From the Song of Simon we hear:
…for these eyes of mine have seen the salvation whom you have prepared for all the world to see…”
In the Baptismal Covenant we pledge to:
…seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself.”
To see God and to learn God is difficult, especially in others who may wish to hide from us. To see God is also difficult because of our eyes as Luke 6: 41-42 describes:
Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, friend, let me take the speck in your eye when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? First, take the log out of your own eye, then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.”
To see more clearly, with less obstruction, we need to learn of God through Bible Study, through prayer, and through worship.
It is through seeing more clearly that our sight is turned into service. As Jesus came to serve, so we are invited to serve and to follow his lead.