Our Spiritual Compass

I am sure that most of you have seen a compass. A compass is a very handy instrument that will help keep you from getting lost. Not only that, it will help you find your way if you do get lost. The compass has four main directions, they are North, South, East and West. The needle of the compass always points North. So, if the needle is pointing in that direction (point to the North) and you want to go South, you would go in the opposite direction from what the needle is pointing. With the needle pointing North, if you want to go East, you would go in that direction (point to the East.) If the needle sometimes pointed North and at other times it pointed to the South, East, or West, you would never be able to use the compass to find your way. You would wander around, hopelessly lost. The compass must always point in the same direction if you are going to use it to guide you.

In trying to find our way through life's journeys, God has given us a spiritual compass to guide us. That guide is the Holy Spirit. When we don't know what to do or which way to turn, the Holy Spirit always points us in the right direction.

Some people rely on their feelings to help them make decisions. That's no good. Our feelings may change from day-to-day, so they cannot be trusted to guide us in the right direction. Besides, just because we feel good about something doesn't mean that it is the right thing to do, does it?

Some people look at what others are doing to help them make important decisions. That is no good either. Just because everyone else is doing it doesn't mean that it is the right thing to do. Tomorrow everyone might be doing something else.

Jesus promised that God would send the Holy Spirit "to guide us in all truth." That means that the Holy Spirit will help us to understand God's Word which always points us in the right direction. It points us to Jesus who is "the Way, the truth, and the life."

Whenever you don't know which way to turn, you can always turn to God's Word and let the Holy Spirit be your guide.

Father, we thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to be our guide through life. We know that the Spirit will lead us to Jesus. In his name we pray, amen.