Do we need guidance?

Do we need direction?

Do we need a light to help us see the way?

Do we need a straight arrow, flying straight, pointing the way?

Do we need a path, a perfectly narrow path, one that is marked and easy to see?

Do we need a guidepost, a marker, there in the distance, standing strong, directing our steps?

Do we need a walking stick, study, ever true, one we can daily use to help make our path sure?

Do we need a guide, walking beside us, explaining what we are to see as we go?

Do we need to never walk this life alone?

Don’t we need all these?

Don’t we need our paths made sure, our steps secure, our path illuminated, and our guide trustworthy?

Don’t we?

Yes, We Do.

TRULY.

Do we, really?

YES, Most Definitely—WE—DO!

My best friend enjoys hiking with her dad.  She loves sharing this part of life with her dad as he searches out new places for them to hike.  On these journeys, five usually hike together:  my friend, her husband, her daughter, her dad’s wife, & her dad.  These chosen places are researched by her dad, and the days are scheduled so that all can make plans to go.  At first, they chose easier hiking trails to accommodate the youth of her daughter, but now her daughter is older, stronger, and more adapted to longer periods of walking, so the hikes have increased in distance.

As they hike, they are prepared:  correct hiking shoes, comfortable clothing, water, head coverings, and a hiking stick for balance, better mobility, and agility.  The smallest hiker (the daughter) even hikes the trails securely holding her hiking stick, allowing the stick to provide her the extra strength she needs as she goes.  She learned early the strength to be found in the support provided.

In the Bible, Jesus speaks to His disciples, preparing them for what is about to occur—His crucifixion.  Jesus knows what they do not yet know.  Jesus wants these chosen men to be as prepared as they can be for the reality of this most horrendous event.  Jesus also wants these disciples to realize that He will not leave them but is providing them a helper, a comforter, and a guide.  Jesus wants them to follow Him, doing His will, even after He has returned to heaven.  That is why Jesus explains to them the truth about the Holy Spirit of God.

See with me.

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth;  for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak;  and He will disclose to you what is to come.

He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.

All things that the Father has are Mine;  therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.

A little while, and you will no longer see Me;  and again a little while, and you will see me.”

“Some of His disciples then said to one another, “What is this thing He is telling us?”

“A little while, and you will not see Me;  and again a little while, and you will see Me because I go to the Father.”

So they were saying, “What is this that He says, “A little while”?  We do not know what He is talking about.”

Jesus knew that they wished to question Him, and He said to them, “Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, “A little while, and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me?

Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice;  you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy.

Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come;  but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world.

Therefore you too have grief now;  but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.”

(John 16: 13-22)

Once a person accepts Jesus Christ as Savior, God gives this person His Holy Spirit who directs the person through the Word of God—the Bible.

Guidance.

No stumbling through life.

No walking in the dark but stepping only—in the light.

God’s guidance is freely given to every person alive, and this sure path is illuminated through Christ Jesus.  The person only needs to open the Bible, the Word of God.  In reading the Bible, God will guide all people to TRUTH.

The Apostle Paul wrote of this security, this direction, this guidance, this help, this comfort.

“For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said,

“I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM;

AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.

THEREFORE, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord.

“AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN;

And I will welcome you.

And I will be a father to you,

And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,”

Says the Lord Almighty.”

(2 Corinthians 6: 16-18)

The Holy Spirit dwells within us—within each Christian.

The Holy Spirit reveals divine wisdom.

The Holy Spirit gives us wisdom from above—from God.

The Holy Spirit helps us know Christ, our Lord and Savior.

The Holy Spirit guides our way as we walk through the daily challenges of work and play—of life.

We have access to ALL truth, offered to us (the believer) by the Father.

We have access to ALL forgiveness, given to us (the believer) by Jesus.

We have access to ALL wisdom, provided to us (the believer) by the Holy Spirit.

Why would we ever desire to “go it alone?”

We would not.

All TRUTH, All FORGIVENESS, & All WISDOM comes through God.

All TRUTH, All FORGIVENESS, & All WISDOM comes through the study of God’s Word.

All TRUTH, All FORGIVENESS, & All WISDOM comes through God’s guidance (His “walking stick”) He has provided.

Won’t we pick up God’s Word today?

Won’t we pick up God’s Word—the Bible—and read?

Won’t we pick up God’s Word—the Bible—and read, seeing the way we should go?

Won’t we—this day, & then the next day, & then the next, followed by the next, followed by . . .

Reading the Bible, spending time IN GOD’S WORD, brings such revelation, such peace, such help.

May we not wait until tragedy strikes to dig into the Word of God.

Theologian, John Piper tells us—“Desire that your life count for something great!  Long for your life to have eternal significance.  Want this!  Don’t coast through life without a passion.”

Finally, the Word of God speaks how WE—DO Most Definitely Need the Lord’s leading, the Holy Spirit’s direction, the Light of Jesus walking with us every day.  See with me.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight!”

(Proverbs 3: 5-6)