THE HEAVENLY GUIDE

Rom. 8:14

Morning Meditation 1/12/2013

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."

Paul certainly knew what it was to be led by the Spirit of God. He also knew that if one were a child of God, he could depend upon and experience that guidance.

The world laughs at those of us who believe in a God that we cannot see. They scoff at such things as the Holy Spirit's guidance. But those of us who know Him recognize and are constantly aware of His presence. We also know that God answers the prayers of His children. Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

When the Lord Jesus saves us, He does not leave us to wander around and shift for ourselves. The sense of direction and leading the Spirit of Truth affords is the birthright of those who are adopted into the family of God. Romans 8:15, "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." Paul makes a declaration of reality. We who are saved have been adopted in God's family. We have a Father and Son relationship which gives us the right to pray to our Father.

Luke 11:1-2, "And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth."

There are many mysteries in the Scripture. I do not mind confessing that I am at a loss to explain many incidents in the life of Christ This is one of them. If Christ is God incarnate in the flesh of man, why does He need to pray. Here the truth of His incarnation comes out plainly. As a man He needed to pray as much as us. And this is where He laid aside His glory as God and assumed the limitations of man. Therefore as man He needed His Father's guidance and instruction. When the disciples saw Jesus pray on this occasion, He was putting into prayer all that prayer is supposed to be.

The disciples were so impressed that they wanted to be taught to pray as Jesus prayed. Our understanding of this would literally change our lives. There is a hint to what was happening when Jesus prayed. Isaiah 50:4-5, "The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back." I will just point out a few things that are obvious:

1. Jesus acknowledged His utter dependence upon the Father.

2. He made a declaration that in itself is amazing; "The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned." Jesus received His knowledge as a man from His Father in heaven.

3. It is one thing to speak the truth and quite another to speak the truth in love. Many time what Jesus said infuriated the Pharisees. Jesus did not attempt to offend them in the way He said what He said but He did state the truth without compromise.

4. The words, "he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned." Remember Jesus is the Creator (john 1:1-3). Did he need to have the Father's power to awaken His ear to hear as the learned? As a man He did.

5. Then His sinless character and His pure motives come out in the words, "and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back."

We have a heavenly Guide. Are we making use of His illuminating power and His providential guidance? If we do not. it will not be because that we do not have access.

May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White