Decisions are ever before us: large ones, small ones, daily ones, life – changing ones. Gardeners wonder what should be planted first. Where I live, I have to decide when it is wise to finally put the snow blower away.
As Christians we are called to make decisions based on God’s system of values. We reach beyond ourselves to define what is good, what is preferable, what is needed. Making decisions according to God’s priorities is a central part of what it means to be “led by the Spirit.”
Our lectionary readings for this month are particularly helpful. In Acts we find the story of the Christian Church reaching out in Jerusalem and beyond, eventually into the cultures of the whole world. In their search to learn the values of God we are told they committed themselves to the teachings of the apostles (Acts 2:42 – 47).
This respect for the teachings of the apostles grows into a respect for their writings and the writings of their followers as scripture, the witness inspired and guided by the Spirit. Jesus instructs the apostles (Luke 24:27), and the apostles instruct us. The priority of the witness of the apostles as scripture, the beginning point for being led by the Spirit, is confirmed when Peter writes, “and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures” (2 Peter 3:15 – 16).
This external leading by the Holy Spirit is complemented by an internal stirring for each of us. As Paul put it in Romans 8:14,16: “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God… it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”
The Holy Spirit weaves God’s truth into our identity. We develop a “heart” to love as God loves, to find joy where God finds joy, to forgive our “debtors” as God has forgiven our debts. We begin to both see and practice justice and mercy as God does.
This internal leading of the Holy Spirit, as powerful as it is, is not meant to be the final step. We are told to bring this internal witness into the fellowship of the church. This is the foundation of church councils, presbyteries and sessions. This is also the call for group Bible studies, and home gatherings and the fellowship and support of the church. The internal stirring of the Spirit is meant for the whole body of Christ. The call of God in all things should be confirmed by His people.
As the apostles and their followers began to move in and out of Jerusalem, they had to learn to listen to the Holy Spirit calling from the needs that surrounded them. We see this as the church moves to meet the practical needs of those who gathered. They heard the Spirit in the cries of the poor and the pleading of the broken. Even among and from the Samaritans and the Gentiles, the Spirit was calling and leading. Do we listen to the cries of need around us when we are led in our visions of service? Do we hear the cries of those who are hurt by what we do, even when we have the best intentions?
We are entering the season when many of us make important decisions. We make decisions about careers, relationships and more. As a church we prepare to make decisions as an Assembly. To be led by the Spirit is to search out the apostles’ witness and to pray. To be led by the Spirit is to allow our convictions to stand the test of the understanding and insight of other believers. To be led by the Spirit is to listen to the pleas of our world for the liberating love of the Lord Jesus Christ.
About David Sutherland
Rev. Dr. David Sutherland is minister at St. Andrew's, St. John's.
