God never leads us in such a way as
to do away with the necessity of faith. When God warned Noah, we
read that it was by faith that Noah was led to build the ark.
When God told Abraham to go to a land which He would show him, it
was by faith that Abraham went (Hebrews xi. 7, 8). If we believe,
we shall surely be guided; but if we do not believe, we shall be
left to ourselves. Without faith it is impossible to please God,
or to follow where He leads. Again, the Psalmist says, "The meek
will He guide in judgment," from which we gather:--
(b) That the Spirit guides us in such manner as to demand the
exercise of our best judgment. He enlightens our understanding
and directs our judgment by sound reason and sense.
I knew a man who was eager to obey God, and to be led by the
Spirit, but who had the mistaken idea that the Holy Spirit sets
aside human judgment and common sense, and speaks directly upon
the most minute and commonplace matters. He wanted the Holy
Spirit to direct him just how much to eat at each meal, and he
has been known to take food out of his mouth at what he supposed
to be the Holy Spirit's notification that he had eaten enough,
and that if he swallowed that mouthful, it would be in violation
of the leadings of the Spirit.
No doubt, the Spirit will help an honest man to arrive at a safe
judgment even in matters of this kind, but it will doubtless be
through the use of his sanctified common sense.
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