Here's a version of the illustration that I shared with the group last Friday at Crosstalk.
I shared with the group that I had heard a profound illustration about abiding or walking in the Spirit during our conference for youth ministry leaders last week.
Rick Lawrence, who is editor of Group magazine, shared that we can learn some great insight about abiding in the Spirit from learning about the tango. The tango as a dance originated in Argentina during the late 1800's. Its origins go back to the black slaves and the lower class in Argentina who developed a dance that was very expression in nature. Rather than being a dance with prescribed steps, it is much more like jazz where performers improvise and respond to emotional senses.
Rick shared that one tango dance instructor said that one of the best ways for the female partner (the follower) to really learn her role was to be blindfolded where she would learn to focus her other senses in responding to her partner's (the leader) sense of touch and pressure. Not being able to see and focusing on her other senses would allow her to better sense the touch and pressures of her partners hands and legs that would lead the way.
When you consider John 5: 19,20 and John 15:7-11, we gain a better sense of what Jesus was trying to teach us about responding to the Master and Holy Spirit.
John 5:19-21: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these."
John 15: 7-11: If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."