We’re going through the letter to the Philippian church. In my last post, we talked about truly knowing Christ. Not just a surface knowledge of what’s written about Him in Scripture. I’m talking about truly knowing Him personally.
We left off looking at Paul’s desire in this regard.
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 3:10-11 NIV
I want to know Christ. Our vocabulary is watered down sometimes. We talk about how long we’ve known Christ, but what we really mean is how long we’ve been saved. Our salvation and truly knowing Christ are two separate issues entirely.
To know someone deeply, you need to spend time with them, one on one. One of the best ways is to walk together. The Bible uses that analogy over and over again concerning our relationship with Christ.
When you walk with Christ for the purpose of knowing Him better, things start to take place.
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12 NIV
One of the big results is that you will not walk in darkness. In other words, the Holy Spirit will begin to guide you every step of the way. You don’t have to wander around through life. Your direction forward will be clear.
This is how Jesus lived and ministered when He was with the disciples. When He heard that His friend, Lazarus was sick, He waited a couple of days. After that, He called them together.
Then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
“But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?”
Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world’s light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light.”
John 11:7-10 NIV
The Lord was led by the Spirit in all that He did. He didn’t go somewhere just because it was expected of Him. On the other hand, He didn’t stay away because of a fear of being killed.
Fear of the future is one of humanity’s greatest fears. We worry about what’s ahead all the time. But if we walk with Christ, listening to the voice of His Spirit, then we need not fear.
If the Spirit is leading, then He’s also protecting.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me.
Psalms 138:7 NIV
That’s why we need to cultivate a close relationship with the Holy Spirit. He’s our guide through all the uncertainties of life.
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Isaiah 30:21 NIV
I love this verse. In it I see the Holy Spirit as my “Life GPS”. We can’t afford to live without His presence.
That’s what a close, personal walk with Christ is all about. Learning to spend time in His presence. But not doing all the talking. Allow the Spirit of Christ to speak to us, then be ready to obey that voice.
That’s the real blessing of a walk with God.
Question: What was the last guidance you received from the Holy Spirit?
© 2023 Nick Zaccardi
The Spirit and the Word 