Read: Hebrews 5:12-14

A mark of Christian maturity is sensitivity to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, even in little things that appear to be harmless. An evangelist recalled preaching as a young minister in a little church. While he spoke, he noticed that his gold wristwatch sparkled in the light. His father had given it to him for graduation from high school. He wrote, “I saw people looking at it. The Lord said to me, “Take it off. It’s distracting.” I said, “Lord, I can surely wear a wristwatch that my father gave me.” But it was sensitivity that God was teaching me – to be sensitive to the little things. I took it off and … never wore it in the pulpit again.”

It is not always easy to know when God is speaking, because inner urgings may arise from fears, selfish desires, or Satan. Yet if we continually learn biblical principles through reading the Word, and if we daily yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit, we will gradually come to recognise His gentle promptings. The author of Hebrews said that mature believers have had their senses “exercised to discern both good and evil” (Heb. 5:14). Whatever exalts Christ over self comes from God, and we can obey with confidence. But whatever is unkind, unloving, and self-seeking grieves the Spirit. When we do something like this, we must confess our disobedience to God at once so that fellowship with Him can be restored.

Eph. 4:30 says, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Our continual prayer should be “Lord, make me sensitive.” Let us have a desire to hear His voice and obey, and always make His will our choice.