The Wisdom of Choosing the Holy Spirit Over Self – In our journey of faith, we often encounter conflicting messages from the world and the teachings of Christ. Max Lucado’s quote beautifully captures one such contrast, emphasizing the importance of choosing the guidance of the Holy Spirit over the pursuit of self. This reflection aims to explore the deeper meaning behind this quote and highlight the profound significance of allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us on the path to eternal fulfillment.
The Wisdom of Choosing the Holy Spirit Over Self
The wizard of Oz says look inside yourself and find self. God says look inside yourself and find the Holy Spirit. The first will get you to Kansas. The latter will get you to heaven. Take your pick.
Max Lucado
The Wisdom of Choosing the Holy Spirit Over Self
- The Wizard of Oz: The Illusion of Self-Centeredness In the famous story of “The Wizard of Oz,” we encounter a young girl named Dorothy who embarks on a journey to find her way back home. Along the way, she encounters the Wizard, who advises her to “look inside herself and find self.” This guidance represents the prevailing wisdom of the world, which often encourages us to rely solely on our own strength, wisdom, and desires. While this approach may seem empowering at first, it ultimately leads us astray, limited by our own flawed perspectives.
- God’s Call: Seeking the Holy Spirit Within In contrast to the self-centered philosophy of the world, God calls us to seek the Holy Spirit within ourselves. The Holy Spirit is the divine presence of God, dwelling in the hearts of believers. As Christians, we are called to align our desires, thoughts, and actions with the will of God. This alignment allows the Holy Spirit to guide us, providing us with wisdom, discernment, and strength to navigate life’s challenges.
- From Kansas to Heaven: The Choice Before Us Lucado’s quote poignantly presents us with a choice: Kansas or heaven. The pursuit of self, symbolized by Kansas, represents a temporal and limited existence. It is a place of personal fulfillment, but ultimately unsatisfying in the long run. On the other hand, choosing the Holy Spirit’s guidance leads us toward heaven, a destination far beyond our earthly limitations. It is an eternal dwelling place in the presence of God, where true joy, peace, and fulfillment are found.
- Embracing the Holy Spirit’s Guidance To choose the latter, we must be willing to surrender our self-centered tendencies and allow the Holy Spirit to lead our lives. This requires humility, faith, and an ongoing relationship with God through prayer, study of His Word, and fellowship with other believers. By cultivating a close relationship with the Holy Spirit, we open ourselves up to His transformative work, aligning our desires with God’s perfect will.
- The Fruit of Following the Holy Spirit When we choose the Holy Spirit’s guidance over self, we begin to experience the transformative power of God’s love in our lives. From Galatians 5:22-23 on The fruit of the spirit not only bless our lives, but also enable us to positively impact the world around us, reflecting the character of Christ.
The Holy Spirit equips us with the virtues of:
Max Lucado’s profound quote invites us to examine the true source of our guidance and fulfillment. While the world encourages us to look within ourselves, the Christian faith teaches us to seek the Holy Spirit within.
By surrendering our self-centered desires and embracing the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we open ourselves up to a life that transcends earthly limitations. Let us choose the path that leads not only to Kansas but ultimately to the everlasting joy of heaven, where we dwell in the presence of our loving Creator.
Just a reminder to live in the Spirit with the Fruit of the Spirit and not the works of the flesh!
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