A Word on Guidance

We talk a lot about “guidance” and our need of guidance from God in our daily walk of faith. You might be surprised if you look for this word in Strong’s Concordance. You will find guide, guides, guiding, and guided, but no mention of guidance! This made me aware of how often we miss-quote the Bible in our daily expressions that we are sure is based on scripture.

It is very true that we need guidance, but this guidance comes from having a faithful guide, who will lead us in the right pathway. In the Gospels we see Jesus portrayed as the “Good Shepherd” who cares for His sheep (John 10 1-18) When these scriptures were written, shepherds were commonly seen leading their flock of sheep to and from their feeding ground, to the safety of a fold at nighttime. They never “drove” the sheep, but gently “guided” them From this we can see that although we need “guidance” in our lives, it only comes as we carefully follow the “Guide” provided by our loving Heavenly Father. This guide of course is none other than Jesus Christ!

Someone has pointed out that a “guide dog” that has been trained to lead a blind person on busy city sidewalks, is much preferable to someone shouting instructions to them from the other side of the street! They could tell the blind person to watch out for certain obstacles, but the guide dog would gently lead them around the obstacles.

This is how Jesus guides us if we allow Him to. He knows all the obstacles that lie in our pathway, and how to avoid them! In other words, we need a Guide—not guidance, just as we need a Healer---not healing. We often seek after the experience that Jesus can provide, instead of seeking Him who is the source of that which we need!

The Bible tells us that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God in heaven right now, but before He left this planet some 2000 years ago, to return to His Father’s side, He promised to send the Holy Spirit to take His place. You can read all about this in the gospel of John chapters 14, 15, and 16. The first chapter of Acts continues His instructions to the disciples, and the second chapter covers the event of the promised Holy Spirit coming. So if you desire “guidance” in your life, I recommend you seek it from the only reliable “Guide” Jesus Christ. First let Him become your Savior, then your Baptizer in the Holy Spirit! -----Sincerely in Him----Gramp