Devo: "Check Engine Light"
“Check Engine Light”
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts...” (Colossians 3:15)
Most of us know what it feels like to be riding down the highway in our vehicle and the “check engine” light comes is illuminated on the instrument panel of our vehicle. When we see the indicator light our mind is filled with questions about what is wrong with our vehicle. But the amazing thing is, our auto mechanic can connect a computer to our vehicle and run a diagnostic scan of our vehicle and instantly they can tell us what is wrong with our vehicle.
Our manufacturer, our Heavenly Father, has created us similarly to a vehicle. When we are in an adversity and the “check engine” light of the “deeds of flesh” manifest in our lives, that is a signal to us, we need to allow the mechanic of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God run a diagnostic test of our heart (Hebrews 6:12). The “deeds of the flesh” is an indicator that our spiritual engine is trying run on our fleshly and self-centered soulish efforts (Galatians 5:19-21).
When we are being led by the Holy Spirit, our spiritual engine will hum with the “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23). Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control effortlessly flowing out of our lives is the spiritual sound of our spiritual engine working properly (Colossians 3:15; James 3:17-18). But when there is a problem, our spiritual engine will sputter and the indicators of the deeds of the flesh will manifest in our lives.
The are numerous problems we must overcome when we are in an adversity and the deeds of the flesh are signaling a problem in our lives. The first problem is the revelation and ability to recognize we are operating in the flesh. The second problem we must overcome is stopping and taking the time to still ourselves and draw near to the throne of grace to receive God’s mercy and find His grace in our time of need. It is in these moments of receiving mercy and finding grace that our God lovingly does a work in our lives to help us grow into the likeness of Jesus.