Between Pastor Jim and a fellow pastor there was a strained relationship. Pastor Jim was burdened about it and felt that the Lord prompted him to send the offended pastor a gift. Knowing that pastors love books he chose a little classic that he loved called; “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23” He bought the book, inscribed it and mailed it to the offended pastor.
A few days later the pastor called Jim to thank him for the book. Here is what he said;
“Pastor Jim, the other day I decided that I would go tot he bookstore to buy a particular book that I wanted to add to my library. My wife was driving and she was about to back out of the driveway when I felt an impulse to stop first and check the mail. In the mail that morning was a package from you with a copy of “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23.” In the book you included a warm note. I stood there in shock. I was going to the bookstore that morning to buy that very book. How did you know?”
Every day each of us will get impulses from the flesh that do not come from God. We can also rely on the promise of God that the Holy Spirit who lives in us will prompt us and teach us and remind us… we will get imposes from the indwelling Spirit. When we obey those impulses in the power of the Holy Spirit we are walking in the Spirit. When we walk in the Spirit supernatural things happen and they result in love, joy, peace, patience, kidness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
I can’t imagine a more “full-of-life” way to live than to continually, habitually walk in the Spirit and cooperate with the work of God in the world around me.
Ken Pierpont
Bittersweet Farm
Summit Township, Michigan
April 15, 2018
