A Spiritual Compass
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1 Corinthians 2:9-16
9. But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him," 10. God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11. For what person knows a man's thoughts except the spirit of the man which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. 13. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who possess the Spirit. 14. The unspiritual man does not receive the gifts of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15. The spiritual man judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16. "For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
If you have trouble believing Paul in these verses, let me briefly offer a personal testimony. I am dealing with a situation at work involving a co-worker. It has distressed me a great deal and I’m struggling with how to handle it. When I opened my bible this morning, I opened to scripture that was directly, undoubtedly selected by God for me to read! It didn’t give me an answer but reassurance and direction on how I was to conduct myself, even if the situation became stressful or unpleasant. Some people call that a coincidence. I don’t believe anything that happens in our lives is coincidence! I believe without question or doubt that God directed my fingers to open my bible to that page and drew my eyes to those verses.
How about you? Do you believe God is that intimately involved in your life? Do you think he cares about you so much that he never wants you to feel alone or afraid? Do you accept that through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we are one with God? I do! I do! How else could you explain a lifetime of “coincidences” and “near misses” and diverted poor choices and decisions? God implants himself within each of us—the Holy Spirit. And the spirit serves as an inner compass, a guide, a helper, an advisor. Not that we don’t have a choice in the matter—that’s the wonder of God’s love! He allows us to choose to follow the spirit’s leading or our own.
How does that work out for you? Following your own hunches and not relying upon direction or guidance from God? If you’re like me, not too well! If you don’t “tap into” that spiritual center, you’ll feel adrift and alone throughout all the days of your life. You’ll struggle with every career decision, every choice about where to go to college, each step along the way you’ll have decisions and choices to make! And how to you arrive at the right answer? Do you wing it—I do! I do! And I’m usually sorry when I do! But when I pray and ask God to “activate” the spirit within me, I am able to make better choices. I am informed by the part of me that is God.
I have read these verses many times. I think they are so beautiful and create the air of mystery that surrounds our understanding of God’s workings in and through us. The Holy Spirit is a hard concept to grasp. But If God made us to be like him, he had to give us a way to know what it means to “be like him.” That’s the job of the Holy Spirit. And the power of the Holy Spirit is that it searches the depth and breadth of God to discern for us how we are to live our lives.
It’s just so amazing! I never cease to be awed and amazed by how God works and who he is! That he would deem us worthy to be a part of him! That he would allow us the tiniest little pinhole of the vision of who he is! That we would understand the least little bit of him! It’s just so humbling and awe-inspiring. I’m having one of those mornings where I love God beyond words, or thoughts, beyond song or prayer! I am so filled up with Him and His love and His care and His concern for me that I just can’t begin to describe it!
I hope you have a day filled with comfort and direction from the Holy Spirit. And that you “tap into” that spiritual compass God cared enough to implant in your soul.
Mary
