The Discipline of Guidance
The Discipline of Guidance
Major Ted Morris
Corps Officer
Clearwater, Florida
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:23-33
The two previous devotionals, on the discipline of confession and the discipline of worship have a church sound to them. Confession and worship fit in our church culture. The discipline of guidance does not have that church ring to it. Guidance fits better in an educational environment or a therapeutic environment – a place where people learn from one another.
Guidance on Guidance
But there is an element of learning in church congregations, both formal and informal. Many in our congregations have vast experience and the younger, less experienced members would be wise to learn from them. According to Dictionary.com, guidance is defined as, “direction provided, advice given.”
Guidance has a connotation of instruction, direction, judgment, exhortation, or teaching. Guidance is something provided by someone where the receiver can choose to follow the guidance given or can choose not to. Proverbs 1:5 instructs us to “let the wise listen and add to their learning. Let the discerning get guidance.” In this context, guidance is something “out there” that we are supposed to look for, discover and incorporate into our own lives.
Sure, we should all seek and follow God’s guidance but is it doing a practice or discipline of the church? I contend that it certainly could be. But, as followers of Jesus, I suggest that a discipline we should learn to practice is the “gift of guidance,” both as a body of believers as well as individuals. What does this mean? How can guidance be a personal as well as a corporate discipline of our fellowship?
Clarity
As we look at 1 Corinthians 10, the best way to understand Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth is to understand the cultural and religious context it and in doing so, discern what instructions were unique and what instructions are universal truths that we can pull out of this text to apply to our twenty-first century world. Many of the believers had come out of a pagan lifestyle, which was the dominant culture of that place and time. Many had been idol worshippers and took part in all manner of pagan worship rituals. Roman culture and pagan religious practices were so intertwined that pagan worship was part of Roman culture and Roman culture was part of pagan worship.
One very common pagan practice was the offering of food to their various idols, hoping that the gods would favor them in some way, perhaps with financial success, human or agricultural fertility, good weather, or military success. This practice was not only an ancient one but continues to be a part of non-Christian worship in many parts of the world today. Some years ago, I asked a friend of mine in another country who practices this ritual and was told that food placed on the graves of loved ones and in places of worship is done in hopes that the spirits would receive the “essence of the offering” and bring blessing.
In first-century Corinth, when the food was finished being used in worship it was often sold in local meat markets. This practice is referred to in 1 Corinthians 10:25. Sometimes,
the meat was sold at a discount and often ended up on dinner plates. The eating of this meat that had been used in pagan worship was a bone of contention among Jesus followers. Some believed that it was an anathema to do so in that it supported pagan worship practices. Others believed that, since the gods were pagan and did not exist at all, there was no harm in it.
Paul addresses this in 1 Corinthians 10:26 when he reminds his readers that “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” In saying that “if you believe that idols are nothing anyway, then eating meat offered to them should not be an issue.” But he also acknowledges that there are some who have been redeemed from this practice and want to have nothing to do with anything related to their past life. For the sake of these people, if eating this meat would weaken their newfound faith then it is best not to partake – for their sake.
In our modern, Western world purchasing food that was used in religious worship is probably not a huge issue. I have never seen a sign at my local Outback Restaurant notifying that the some of the steaks on the menu were used in an Aboriginal worship service. So, what is the timeless principle we can take from Paul’s teaching here? It is “be willing to change your behavior, if not doing so will hinder someone else’s walk of faith.” Considering this, 1 Corinthians 10:23-24 could be read as follows: “I have freedom in my faith, however not everything is good for me or helpful for those around me. Nobody should go through life only grabbing for what they wish, but what will benefit others instead.” And verse 32 could be read as: “In walking the Christian walk, make sure your actions do not raise questions in less mature believers, causing them to question their newfound faith.”
Power of Example
How do we, as believers, provide this godly guidance? People are always watching us, both at church activities as well as out in the world. They are watching as we move around our local communities, when we drive and how we drive. They are watching us in the grocery line and how we treat wait staff while eating at restaurants. They are watching the words we use, the attitudes we exhibit, and how we face personal crisis. They are watching how we care for others, and what we do in our free time. And if we look deep into our souls, and see that the way we do these things just might tempt those around us to slip, ever so slightly, in their relationship with the Lord we may need to consider adjusting our attitudes, tweaking the words we use when angry or frustrated and evaluating whether what we do, in our own spiritual freedom, that may cause them to pause in evaluation their own faith.
In doing so it is possible, that we may find ourselves in a situation where we can provide gentle guidance as we walk with the Lord. It may be when spiritual matters organically come up in casual conversation. It may be when a friend shares their own spiritual journey, and the joys or frustrations, perplexities, and challenges that they are facing. What a great opportunity to guide them in their walk of faith. What a great time to share of your own walk, how the Lord has strengthened you just when you needed it, how the Lord has made Himself known to you, how you can entrust Him with your life, and how He has proven himself faithful over the years.
The discipline of guidance can be manifested in two ways: by our willingness to change and be inconvenienced to strengthen the faith of others, and by our willingness to witness to the keeping power of Jesus in our lives. Galatians 5:13 remind us: “Brothers and sisters, God has called you to freedom! Hear the call and do not spoil this gift by using your liberty to engage in what your flesh desires; instead use it to serve each other as Jesus taught through love.” (The Voice Bible).
I pray that we all seek guidance from our Maker. And that we seek to provide guidance to those around us because the world is in desperate need of guidance, and we know from whom wisdom is obtained.
Our Corporate Prayer
Dear Lord, help us to remember that in everything we do we are an example. Help us to be as bold as Paul was when he told people to follow his example because in so doing, they would walk the right way. Let us live lives that are open to inspection because they are lived with integrity before You. Examine my heart in this moment, Lord. If I am false in any way, show me. Let me confess it, seek Your forgiveness and Your correction so that I can be right before You and then be of service to Your people. Help me to remember that I am my brother's keeper and that I am not to live only for myself. Let me follow the example of Jesus, my Lord, who lived His life spotlessly before others and always for others. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Our Worldwide Prayer Meeting
India Northern Territory
Thinking It Through
What people in your life influenced you by their example, either good or bad? Did their words match what they said? Who are you guiding by how you live and by what you say? Is the Lord honored by the guidance you are giving?
Notable Quotables
If God guides I can never be lost - not even if I am in a land I know not of. If all I do is as He directs, then there is no moment and no situation in which He cannot work for the furtherance of His redeeming purpose. - General Frederick Coutt
What a wonderful promise is found in this old song based on a Bible promise - " I Will Guide Thee with Mine Eye"
We would appreciate any feedback and/or suggestions on how to improve these devotionals. Please email comments to: SpiritualLifeDevelopment@uss.salvationarmy.org or by going to our website: https://southernusa.salvationarmy.org/uss/spiritual-life-development.
We would love to hear from you.
Lt. Colonel Allen Satterlee
Territorial Spiritual Life Development Officer/THQ Chaplain
USA Southern Territory