Biblical Reflections · Christian Life

Guiding others: whom and how?

7 min read, approximately

Psalms 51:12-13 (Guiding others)
“Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and may a noble spirit sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn to you.”

Guiding others?

There is certainly happiness in our lives:

“For while we were yet weak, in due season Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: for peradventure for the good man some one would even dare to die. But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, shall we be saved from the wrath [of God] through him. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life; and not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” (Romans 5:6-11)

We were estranged, we repented, and the Lord washed, accepted, and redeemed us, reconciling us with the Father. Not only that, we also received the gift of the Holy Spirit…

But what is the point of all this if we do not share it with others?

“And Peter [said] unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, [even] as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him.” (Acts 2:38-39)

Let us remember that

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

This good news is for everyone!

And you and I are the instruments to spread this message and guide others!
‘What?! What do you mean?!’ Have we been cleansed?

“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the master’s use, prepared unto every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:21)

Every good work, such as what?

“Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

Whom should we guide, and how?

“Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do [men] light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shineth unto all that are in the house. Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

Our task

According to God’s Word, we have an important task with:

\1. Children

“Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should lay his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for to such belongeth the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:13-14)

But how will they draw near to the Lord if you and I do not teach them to have a relationship with God?

“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thy heart; and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)

Are we waiting for them to say, ‘Daddy, Mommy, will you read the Bible to me?’ Or do we take the initiative?

\2. Our spouse

Wife, to your husband; husband, to your wife

“Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself: for no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as Christ also the church;” (Ephesians 5:28-29)

In marriage, we do not love our spouse for no reason; we do it by following Christ’s example:

“and above all these things [put on] love, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful.” (Colossians 3:14-15)

\3. Relatives

“We love, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, cannot love God whom he hath not seen. And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also.” (1 John 4:19-21)

Have there been obstacles to guiding our relatives? Is there resentment? Let us remember that

“He that is of a greedy spirit stirreth up strife; But he that putteth his trust in Jehovah shall be made fat.” (Proverbs 28:25)

“Then came Peter and said to him, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? until seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:21-22)

How many times have we counted?… And let us not forget that

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9)

Shall we stop the conflict and instead allow God to use us as his instruments with our relatives?

\4. Society

“Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of [our] faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

“Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, in whom ye were sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and railing, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:29-32)

How are we doing at setting a good example?

We are called to fish and guide others (Psalms 51:12-13)

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, and for your fruit to remain…” (John 15:16a)… So, “show yourself in everything as an example of good works; in teaching, show integrity, seriousness, and sound, irreproachable speech, so that the adversary may be ashamed, having nothing bad to say about you.” (Titus 2:7-8)

Shall we guide others?

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May God continue to bless you, and may you keep having an excellent day in Christ Jesus!