RE:CALCULATINGSample

Day 1: RE-CALCULATING: How To Get Back on Track if You’ve Messed Up Along the Way

One of the greatest advantages of modern technology is the invention of the Global Positioning System (GPS). Available on almost every mobile device, it not only tells you where you are but also guides you to your destination. If you make a wrong turn, it recalibrates to help you get on course.

Spiritually speaking, we have been given a supernatural GPS—the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit lives within every believer, and He stands ready during every moment of every day to lead and guide us to reach our God-given destiny. When we stray from our intended path, He recalculates our route back to God’s plan.

The key is to train our spiritual ears to hear the Holy Spirit’s voice and direction. Jesus assured us in John 16:13, “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth….” The Holy Spirit offers one of the most profound gifts in our lives—His readiness to guide our decisions and steps if we choose to trust Him.

The word “guide” in this verse is the Greek word hodegos, which describes a guide who shows a traveler the safest course through an unknown country. This word was used to depict a tour guide who knows the safest, fastest, and most pleasurable path to take. The reason this guide knows the best route to take is because he has already been there.

Jesus used hodegos to describe the Holy Spirit’s leadership in our lives. Acknowledging this can help us avoid pitfalls set by the enemy and enhance our experience along the way.

In fact, you can avoid getting off track if you pray before you take action. It‘s better to be led by the Spirit from the beginning than to rely on yourself and have to correct your mistakes.

The first person to tap into the full use of the Holy Spirit’s “GPS” capabilities was Jesus. The story of Jesus receiving news of Lazarus’ death is a perfect example of this. We know from John 11:3 that Mary and Martha were totally surprised by their brother’s debilitating sickness because the verse includes the word “behold.” “Behold” is the Greek word idou, describing bewilderment, shock, amazement, and wonder. That is why they dispatched the message, “...He whom thou lovest is sick.” to Jesus (John 11:3).

When you come to John 11:5, it says, “Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.” Notice the first word “now.” It is the Greek word de, which is like an exclamation mark, and it means categorically or emphatically. It is the equivalent of saying, “Jesus really loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus!”

John 11:6 continues, “When He [Jesus] had heard therefore that He [Lazarus] was sick, He abode two days still in the place where we was.” At first, it seems strange that Jesus would remain where He was and not immediately come to His friend Lazarus’ aid. When the Bible says, “...He abode….” the Greek literally says, “then indeed He abode.” A better translation of this says, “Regardless, indeed He stayed put, did not move, and did not budge.”

Even after Jesus received the urgent news of Lazarus’ serious illness, He didn’t budge for two full days because the Holy Spirit had not led Him to go. Once those two days of waiting were over, the Holy Spirit led Jesus to go to Lazarus’ aid, which is why the disciples questioned Him, saying, “Goest thou thither,” which in Greek literally means, “Are you being led there, Jesus? “

The Jews likely anticipated Jesus’ immediate visit to Lazarus. Their intention might have been to harm Him and His disciples, but the Holy Spirit instructed Him to wait. Emotionally driven to see Lazarus, Jesus acted only when He received the Spirit’s prompting.

If we attune ourselves to the Holy Spirit, He will illuminate our path, advising us when to stay, when to go, and where to proceed. Tune in to His voice and seek His guidance continually. What the Holy Spirit did for Jesus, He will undoubtedly do for you.

Questions to Consider:

1. Before this lesson, what did you know about Jesus’ relationship with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus?
2. How did you interpret Jesus’ decision to wait two days before visiting Lazarus?
3. How has this teaching reshaped your perspective?