Seeing in the Spirit

Have you ever been on an airplane and heard that familiar "ding" signaling it's safe to move about the cabin? There's a sense of freedom that comes with unfastening your seatbelt and stretching your legs. But what happens when turbulence hits, and the captain suddenly orders everyone to sit down and buckle up again?

This scenario serves as a powerful metaphor for our spiritual lives. Just as we trust the captain's authority and wisdom on a flight, our journey with God requires a similar level of trust and obedience. It's not always about following when we feel it's necessary, but about trusting an authority figure who discerns more than we do.

Jesus beautifully captures this concept in John 10:27, saying, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." This verse encapsulates the essence of true faithfulness – it's about following Jesus, not just when it's convenient or when we understand, but always.

Throughout Christian history, many believers have desired to "see in the spirit" – to have a heightened spiritual awareness and connection with God. However, this desire for spiritual insight is incomplete without obedience. As Oswald Chambers wisely cautioned, "Beware of the inclination to dictate to God what consequences you would allow as a condition of your obedience to him."

Seeing in the Spirit reaches its fullness when vision leads to following. It's not enough to merely recognize where God is at work; we must be willing to act on what we see. James, the brother of Jesus, emphasizes this point in his letter: "But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves" (James 1:22-24).

This truth challenges us to be doers of the Word, not just hearers. It's like having a GPS with a clear route laid out before you – it does you no good unless you're willing to drive it. Spiritual vision transforms a Christian into faithfulness when we obey and walk it out.

So, where is God asking you to take one step of obedience this week? Perhaps it's redirecting your actions for Kingdom work, forgiving someone who's hard to forgive, or choosing to love when it's really difficult. Whatever it may be, remember that obedience in the biblical sense (from the Greek word "hupakoa") means to hear under authority and then respond with actions.

Obedience is more than passive listening or a spiritual gift – it's submission to a higher authority that produces action. For followers of Jesus, it means trusting God's authority more than our own preferences and ways. Throughout Scripture, we see that obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15), brings blessings (Luke 11:28), was modeled by Jesus himself (Philippians 2:8), measures our love (John 14:15), and is produced by faith (Romans 1:5).

Thomas à Kempis, in his renowned work "The Imitation of Christ," suggests that obedience is the safer, freer, and fuller way of living. It keeps believers under God's protection, produces humility, and casts off self-will. As Jesus teaches in Luke 9:23, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me."

This obedience isn't an act of weakness but strength aligned with God's greater will. It's like an umbrella in a rainstorm – we stay dry because we remain under that covering. Moreover, it's the freer way because the gospel is about freedom that flows from grace, not legalism. It transforms obedience from burden to joy because we love whom we follow.

Think of it like a train on its tracks. The world might suggest that true freedom comes from jumping off those tracks, but we know the train isn't built for that. True freedom for the train – and for us – comes when we operate as we were designed to, aligned with our Creator's intentions.

Obedience also brings us into the fullness of God's presence. It's not about suppressing our free will but about making love visible through action. In our relationships, we know that love is at its fullest when expressed through deeds, not just words. The same is true in our relationship with God.

Importantly, obedience isn't just personal – it's communal. When we align ourselves with Christ's teachings, our insights and actions can be tested and refined within the community of believers. This process unites us around the Good Shepherd as His flock.

Practically speaking, we can obey God with our hearts (loving Him above all), our will (committing fully to His call), our minds (knowing and living by His truth), our bodies (honoring Him with our health and strength), our finances (managing resources for His Kingdom), and our future (trusting His plans over our own).

In a world where good and evil are often blurred, where selfishness is promoted as truth, and where the gospel is twisted by culture, Christian discernment is not optional – it's essential. Our communities and nations desperately need men and women who see as God sees and who are obedient to the Spirit, living with Christ-like values grounded in love and grace.

The Christian worldview, while it may sound exclusive to some, offers the truest vision of reality. It's not about tribal superiority but about truth in God's love, meant to transform all creation. Even as we hold firmly to this truth, we must refuse to dehumanize those who don't yet see it, remembering that all humans bear God's image and that His grace is already at work in their hearts.

The goal of seeing through a Christ-like worldview is not arrogance but humble discernment. True spiritual sight doesn't make us superior; it makes us attentive to what Christ is doing. It helps us see others first with love and a hunger for truth, which in turn enables us to perceive and respond to God's work in each moment.

As we close, let's reflect on this beautiful poem by Hazel Hartwell Simon, titled "Love Makes Obedience":

Love makes obedience a thing of joy, To do the will of one we like to please Is never hardship, though it tax our strength; Each privilege of service love will seize.

Love makes us loyal, glad to do or go, And eager to defend a name or cause. Love takes the drudgery from common work And asks no rich reward or great applause.

Love gives us satisfaction in our task And wealth in learning lessons of the heart. Love sheds a light of glory on our toil And makes us humbly glad to have a part.

Love makes us choose to do the will of God, To run His errands and proclaim His truth; It gives our hearts an eager, lilting song, Our feet are shod with tireless wings of youth.

What one bold, humble, Spirit-led step of obedience is God calling you to take this week? As you ponder this question, remember that true spiritual sight culminates in faithful following. May we all grow in our ability to see as God sees and to follow where He leads, transforming our vision into obedient action for His glory.