Sabbath Meditation #25 – Allow God’s Spirit to Guide You

By Kelly McDonald, Jr. 

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth…” (John 16:13).

Christians commonly interpret this verse as a reference to the Spirit of God leading us towards truth and into its initial acceptance/understanding. This is absolutely true. However, there is an additional interpretation of this verse that is often overlooked.

Some translations render the end of John 16:13 as “He will guide you in (or within) all truth…” God’s Spirit leads us in obedience to the truth. In other words, God’s Spirit will assist us in learning how to obey the commandments of God.

Too often, we try to do things by human effort instead of by the Spirit’s leading and power. We try to figure it all out on our own. Our minds are renewed or renovated in Christ (Romans 12:1-2), but this happens by the Spirit of God (Titus 3:5).

One major feature of being a Christian is that God’s Spirit guides us. We are not left to our own human, carnal devices. “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Romans 8:7). Consider the following verses:

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Romans 8:14)

“And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness” (Luke 4:1).

“Then the Spirit said unto Philip, ‘Go near, and join thyself to this chariot…’” (Acts 8:29).

The Greek word translated as “led” can also mean “to be accompanied by.” The Lord leads or accompanies us into all truth by the Spirit; we are not alone. He is with us. “I will not leave you as orphans: I will come to you” (John 14:18).

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. God’s Spirit spoke to Philip to go near the chariot of the Ethiopian Eunuch.

If this is the case with Jesus and Philip, then what about the Sabbath? Christ is Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:27-28). How much more will the Spirit of Jesus Christ lead us into the detailed obedience of His Sabbath day?

The written Word of God exists as the recorded witness of God’s will for our Sabbath observance. In it, we learn absolute truths for the Sabbath – such as that we do not work on the day and we should keep it holy. The Spirit will reveal to you ways to apply God’s truth in your personal life. The Spirit of God will never contradict the written Word of God.

Spend time praying this Sabbath and ask God to teach you by His Spirit about Sabbath observance. There may be things that you need to adjust or keep the same. Ask God to give you the strength to follow through with the revelation of proper Sabbath observance.

We could try to figure it out on our own with human wisdom, but we might be tempted to justify behavior that is obviously contrary to the truth of Sabbath observance. When we walk by the Spirit, we will stay in God’s will.

“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).

Selah.

Kelly McDonald, Jr.

BSA President – www.biblesabbath.org