Page 37 and self-sacrificing on the other. Even in my life today, the leadership of the Holy Spirit virtually always involves one of two things: Serving and ministering to others or exposing some inward attitude, motive, reaction, or outlook in me that God wants to deal with. The method by which the Spirit leads is always toward a greater discovery of Christ. Sometimes these promptings will cause one to perceive things outside of natural means in order to help someone spiritually, emotionally, or physically. I will give you a very recent example to illustrate this. A relative of mine was suffering from a severe cold. She told me that she was going to take some medicine. For reasons that I cannot explain, I felt inclined to watch her take the medicine to make sure the dosage was correct. Again, there was no natural reason for me having this inclination. I’ve never checked on someone’s medicine dosage before, and I had no good reason to do it this time. The directions said to take two tablespoons of the medicine. A measuring cup was included with the medicine bottle. The medicine was poured to the two- tablespoon mark. As I looked at it, I knew it was far more than two tablespoons. We then measured it, and sure enough, it was four tablespoons! The measuring cup was not accurate. If I had not been there to check on the dosage, my loved one would have overdosed on the medicine. I was simply following an instinct I had. And there was no harm in doing so. A sensitive spirit
[The Bible speaks of God’s glory in three ways.] First, glory is the inward majesty of God; second, it is the brightness God sometimes shines out into the world; third, it is the worship we offer to God. When we see God’s glory, the proper way for us to respond is to give Him the glory-to offer Him all the honor and praise He deserves. As Jonathan Edwards concluded, “The end of the creation is that the creation might glorify [God]. Now what is glorifying but a rejoicing at that glory He has displayed?”
Philip Graham Ryken