Day 21 of Illumination: We must humbly guide those who don’t yet know what we know.
- araratchurch
- Oct 21, 2022
- 3 min read
“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any sin, you who are spiritual [that is, you who are responsive to the guidance of the Spirit] are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness [not with a sense of superiority or self-righteousness], keeping a watchful eye on yourself, so that you are not tempted as well. Carry one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the requirements of the law of Christ [that is, the law of Christian love]. For if anyone thinks he is something [special] when [in fact] he is nothing [special except in his own eyes], he deceives himself.”
Galatians 6:1-3 AMP
When I was a little girl I remember that there were several movies I watched where people were trekking through the jungle while being assisted by some local person acting as a guide. The guide would speak to the other natives for the jungle explorer. Additionally, the guide would warn the explorer about poisonous foods and animals as well as helping the explorer negotiate many other seen and unseen dangers.
When the Louisiana Purchase needed to be charted, Lewis and Clark were chosen for the task. However, it is unlikely that they would have survived the trip through native territories without the leadership of their Native American guide, Sacagawea. In fact Sacagawea was only 17 years of age when her knowledge helped the expedition survive the treacherous 7,000 mile trip!
In 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary was the first person to ascend Mount Everest, an achievement made possible by Tenzing Norgay, a sherpa who had previously led six other expeditions.
Roald Amundsen, the first person to navigate the Northwest Passage in 1903, was assisted by his native Inuit guides. In the process, he learned a number of vital survival skills. These survival skills would also help him a few years later when he became the first person to reach the South Pole in 1911.
Guides are important. Indeed, the Lord, before leaving, promised that He was sending an expert guide for us to follow.
“There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.”
John 16:12-13 NLT
It is important to know that we—under the leadership of the Holy Spirit—can and should become guides for those who do not yet see or know the way as well as we do.
“From the tribe of Issachar, there were 200 leaders of the tribe with their relatives. All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take.”
1 Chronicles 12:32 NLT
When the army that gathered itself to David was enumerated we see that those from the tribe of Issachar had the special ability to be able to guide others in the way they should go.
Jesus excoriated the religious leaders of the day because, whereas they should be guiding the people in the way they should go, they were blind in terms of what God wanted.
“Leave them alone; they are blind guides [leading blind followers]. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
Matthew 15:14 AMP
Make no mistake, your personal enlightenment is not just for the purpose of your own successful journey in this life; it is also for you to come alongside others, guiding those who may not yet know the way.
In our opening scripture we see that Paul is instructing the church at Galatia, telling them that those who are further along in their spiritual development, should be able to shepherd those who have fallen, onto the path of restoration.
The Lord has given us such a wonderful gift by sharing His heart with us by way of the Holy Spirit. As we walk the ever-brighter path, we should remember that we have the responsibility to provide guidance and light to those who don’t yet know the way as well as we do.
We light a twenty-first candle of illumination today by knowing this:
We must humbly guide those who don’t yet know what we know.
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