Jesus Led Me All the Way
May 6, 2024
In our men’s group at church, we have been studying Steve McVey’s book Grace Walk. He opens his book by admitting failure as the pastor of a church he had been called to after having been successful at previous churches. He characterizes his failure as caused by being focused on doing things (keeping rules, legalism) for Christ instead of letting Christ live through and lead him to accomplish God’s purpose. The rest of the book is about abiding in Christ and letting Him live through us, leading us rather than “trying to do things for Christ.”
I think his general premise is correct – our primary focus as a Christian is Christ, including having daily, ongoing fellowship and a personal relationship with Him and trusting the Spirit of Christ (who indwells us) to lead us in living out the Christian life. Yes, the Holy Spirit who indwells us is none other than the Spirit of Christ our Savior according to 2 Corinthians 3:17, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
Also, notice, I did not say “allowing or letting” the Spirit of Christ lead us. Why? Because, if you are a true Christian, a believer, a child of God, you are being led by the Spirit whether you are conscious of it or not as Romans 8:14 states, “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” Whether a believer is aware of it or not, the Spirit of God, of Christ, has been leading them since the day they were saved. Praise God! When I recently read Romans 8:14 again and understood the Spirit of my Savior has been leading me whether I realized it or not, I was overcome with emotion. Even when I was unconscious of it, He was leading me, influencing my mind and will and my actions.
As awesome as this is, my new desire and prayer is to stay conscious of His presence in me and with me, leading me. As the two great Christian hymns proclaim, “He leadeth me, O blessed thought; O words of heav’nly comfort fraught, what e’re I do, where e’re I be, still ‘tis God’s hand that leadeth me,” and “All the way my Savior leads me; Oh the fullness of His love! Perfect rest to me is promised in my Father’s house above: When my spirit clothed immortal, Wings its flight to realms of day, This my song through endless ages, Jesus led me all the way, This my song through endless ages, Jesus led me all the way!!!”
Sincerely,
Dennis Christian
