“Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how.
Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self.
What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?
Don’t be in such a hurry to go into business for yourself. Before you know it the Son of Man will arrive with all the splendor of his Father, accompanied by an army of angels. You’ll get everything you have coming to you, a personal gift.
This isn’t pie in the sky by and by. Some of you standing here are going to see it take place, see the Son of Man in kingdom glory.”
John 16:24-28 The Message
God is not the co-pilot
According to Wikipedia, General Robert Lee Scott Jr.’s 1943 memoir, God is My Co-Pilot, is likely when the phrase became popular.
Although I understand the sentiment of the phrase (acknowledging God in every area of your life), it is not how the Kingdom of God is ordered.
Jesus makes it clear that he is in charge.
Perhaps at no time has this been more challenging than today in human history. Humanity (even Christian humanity) is taught to embrace and pursue your inner self-will.
The late Reverend Robert Schuller wrote in his 1997 book The Eight Proven Principles of Possibility Thinking if it is going to be, it is up to me.
I do not deny the logic in the statement. Humans must take responsibility for their lives, but Jesus talks about kingdom principles. And in the kingdom, he is the pilot.
What does it mean to let him lead?
Letting Jesus lead your life does NOT mean standing in front of your closet while asking Jesus what to wear. However, if you feel a prompting to wear a particular outfit while standing there, be aware that it could be the prompting of God the Holy Spirit—so wear the outfit.
Letting Jesus lead means having an open ear to hear what God the Holy Spirit is saying. As the active agent of the Godhead on the earth, the Holy Spirit places a vital role in your walk with God.
A close personal relationship with the Godhead is about developing a listening ear to the still, small voice of God, the Holy Spirit.
In the Gospel book of John, Jesus talks about the importance of the Holy Spirit in chapters 13-17. Those five New Testament chapters are essential in understanding how your relationship with the third person in the Trinity works.
So, what does it mean to let Jesus lead?
It means developing a listening ear to the voice of God, the Holy Spirit.
Don’t run from suffering; embrace it.
That flies in the face of post-modern humanity’s way of thinking.
Your life is training for eternity; life, as humanity knows it, is not eternity. This means that sorrow, setbacks, and heartaches are necessary realities.
To embrace suffering means acknowledging your natural life as a training ground for your eternal life. It means that your comfort is as important as your preparation.
The Apostle Paul compares embracing suffering to being a soldier. You go through rigorous training followed by willful obedience. Such faithfulness gets promoted.
Jesus led the way by offering his life as the perfect example. He did what God the Father wanted to be done, when and how he wanted it done. It did not matter if it was acceptable, comfortable, or profitable; he obeyed—and suffered for it.
Self-help is no help at all
I mean no disrespect to the late Reverend Robert Schuller. His writings have their place.
Jesus is talking about kingdom business. He started this discourse by going “to work on his disciples.” This means he took their relationship to the next level. He tells them (before he shows them) that being kingdom prepared—not self-absorbed with getting or becoming—is essential.
Those who live such a life will “get everything you have coming to you, a personal gift.”
The Apostle Paul writes that God is not negligent regarding his promises. He will fulfill them. Jesus is saying that the reward for following him, and living as he lived, is his personal gift.
This is what a close personal relationship is like.
Imagine God the Son telling you he has a personal gift for you.
A close personal relationship with the Godhead is needed now more than ever.
A close personal relationship with the Godhead is a journey. I invite you to follow along. I hope that as you learn, you can pass it along so that I (and others) might learn. As I learn, I will pass it along so you, too, can learn.