The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments. (1 Cor. 2:15)
I studied writing and biblical literature in college, and the things I learned there over half a decade ago are inescapable. I spot everything from grammatical errors in signs to translation errors in sermons (even sermons I really love!)—and it can be maddening.
But it’s not just little things. My education also shaped how I approach life more broadly. I organize my thinking in ways I learned in essay-writing courses. I read the Bible with certain theologians or commentaries always in the back of my head. At this point, these aren’t just things I do; they’re fundamental parts of who I am.
For the Christian, Paul says, the Spirit’s teaching is inescapable.
It’s not just our understanding of God that the Spirit shapes, but our everyday judgments and actions. Our faith, guided by Scripture and led by the Spirit, should have us catching the tiny errors we make during the day, like cutting off another driver in traffic or rudely correcting our pastor for a small translation error (I try not to!). But it’s not just the little things. The Spirit should organize our thinking, should echo in the back of our heads as we read the Bible.
In 1 Thessalonians, Paul says to “pray continually,” but it’s just as important that we listen for the nudging of the Spirit.
List three mundane tasks that might be more Spirit-led for you.
Lindsey Priest is an Indiana Wesleyan University graduate who lives in Arkansas. She likes to read to her kids, play video games with her husband, and refurbish furniture.
© 2022 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
