"But if by [the] Spirit you [all] are being led, you [all] are not under law."
-Life in the Spirit, walking by the Spirit, keeping in step with Him, this glorious dance where we let Him lead, is the life we were always meant to live. True soul freedom, this - freedom from the harsh requirements of the law, no longer under compulsion to observe every last jot and tittle in order to try and gain entry in to the halls of heaven, freedom to blossom into every splendid facet of who I was designed to be. It is a taste of glory indeed, but it is not for everyone. Clearly, because Paul inserts a big hairy if. IF you are being led. There are preconditions, and it is quite possible that someone (and there are many someones) is NOT being led by the Spirit.
-Indeed, some lead, others follow. In our day it is possible to ‘follow’ someone on social media, i.e. to pay attention to them, to what they SAY. It is also possible to follow by acting in accordance with something or someone, as in a set of instructions. Or you could follow their example - paying attention to what they DO. But there is much more here. Ours is a relationship, and we’re going somewhere. Following the Spirit of Christ means we are not only paying attention to Him, to what He says and does, we are not merely observing His set of instructions - we are in a relationship with Him which is headed somewhere, such that we are going where He is going. But in this case, following is more fully orbed, in that it also means deference. There is humility, a lowering of oneself. Submission. You let go of the reins and let someone else do the driving. No, we’re not talking about a chauffeur, where you recline in the back seat and set your engagement on autopilot. No, we are still engaged. And the truth is that most of us would greatly prefer NOT to leave the driving of this car to someone else. We not only want to know where we’re heading, we want to be in the drivers seat. We want the remote control to our lives. We want to be master of our own domain, in charge, calling the shots. But being led by the Spirit of Christ means that He is calling the shots. We let go, and let Him.
-It is better compared to a partner dance, where one partner leads, and the other follows. Interestingly, dance instructors will tell you that the first thing you need is connection - a connection to your partner. Obviously this divine dance begins with a vital connection thru faith with the Spirit of Christ. And then, as you begin to dance, the one who leads is the one who can SEE WHERE THEY ARE GOING. Clearly, this would suggest that the omniscient, all-knowing, infinitely-wise Holy Spirit is far better suited to lead. Learning to follow is not easy - it requires much practice, to the point where when you are following correctly, you won’t take a step until your partner TELLS YOU TO. In fact, dance instructors will say that in dancing, the follower does nothing unless the leader gives the signal. And if he gives a signal which seems wrong, you forget what you were expecting to do and follow the new signal instead. It takes skill for the follower to read the signals given by the lead and react to them with split-second precision. Admittedly it is hard to surrender so much power to someone else. But this is how you follow. And this is Who we follow. If this were "Dancing With The Stars", He is both the Pro AND the Star. The world frankly wants (and needs) to see Him. And He has all the skills, all the ability. He does the choreography, He calls the shots. We hold on, and let go, and let Him.
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