Daily Devotional

I was a typically naïve, young sailor on his first training day on a ship at sea. I was ready for the salty crew to treat us with their typical disrespect. I stood back as one of my fellow newbies was told to look under a battle helmet for what the old sailors called a sea bat. Curious to see this strange creature, he bent down and lifted the helmet. At that moment, an old sailor hit him on the butt with a broom and shouted, “See Bat!” I thought, “What a fool!” Then it was my turn.

I was called down to the engine room where I was assigned to assist a Petty Officer. He shouted to me, “Hey you, get me a left-handed wrench.” Afraid to disobey anything that sounded like an order, I jumped to it.

Being the mechanic I am not; I went about the area looking for that wrench. After minutes of searching, I finally admitted to my visibly surprised superior, “Sorry, I can’t find a left-handed wrench and no one will help me.” He just rolled his eyes and walked away.

There are times when we are asked to do things about which we know nothing. We don’t get away with the new mantra, “Fake it until you make it!” Although it may be hard to eat a bit of “humble pie,” it is best to admit our ignorance and get some help. The Indwelling Holy Spirit is rightly called our Helper—the One who comes alongside us, especially in times when we do not know what to do. Let me remind us:

• He leads us.

Romans 8:14 - “For all who are being led by the Spirit of  God, these are sons of God.”

Galatians 5:18, 25 - “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law….If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”

• He shows us the way to go.

Psalm 32:8 - “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.”

• He teaches us.

John 14:26 - “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”

• He convicts us of sin and the deeds of the flesh.

John 16:8 - “…He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment…”

Galatians 5:19–21 - “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

• He fills us with the Fruit of the Spirit—Christ-like qualities.

Galatians 5:22–23 - “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law...”

Who knows? He may even invent a left-handed wrench when needed.

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.