Guidance

Isaiah 58:11

The Saturday before last, Lizzie and I travelled to Cambridge to see one of our friends’ daughters. We were given a tour of Clare College, as well as the city, going into all the nooks and crannies, well most of them! Of course, that wouldn’t have been possible without the second-year student we were visiting. She was the perfect guide and we got a real flavour of college life. We passed doors we should not have been allowed to pass because she was with us. As someone who never went to university, let alone somewhere as prestigious as Cambridge, it was a real eye-opener!

Then, in the afternoon, she invited us to go punting on the River Cam. It was only when we were sitting in the punt, that she admitted she had only been ‘in charge of the pole’ (punting!) twice before! Well, that was two more times than we had, anyway! To her credit, we managed to avoid any serious collisions with people, punts or bridges which was something of a miracle as the river was predictably busy on a warm and sunny afternoon!

Finding our way in life can seem bewildering, complicated, hazardous, risky, and a whole load of other adjectives! In a world where everyone wants to voice an opinion or ‘give you advice’, it is difficult to work out what we need to listen to and what is just ‘their opinion’.

Isaiah gives us this fantastic promise: ‘The Lord will guide you always;’ God never has a day off or delegates responsibility. He never gives up on us and He never walks away. He will always give us good guidance because by His very nature He is good. But how do we receive His guidance?

We often think of the bible as the handbook for life or some similar description. Here is a reminder of what it says about itself:

‘For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.’ (Hebrews 4:12)

The bible is the Word of God, His revelation to us of Himself. He has given us all we need. It is living, up to date, and never outdated or irrelevant, contrary to misguided popular belief. It sets out the path of life; guidance in the challenges of life. As Hebrews suggests, it cuts into our very being. It can, and should change us, mould us, lead and guide us. It affects our thoughts and our motives (heart) as well as our actions.

Paul, in his second letter to Timothy reflects on the power of God’s Word: ‘All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.’ (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

The bible as we know it was written by up to forty different men over a time span of centuries, but inspired by God – He gave them what they wrote. It is literally God-breathed. If we want to live a life pleasing to God then we need, teaching, rebuking, correcting and training. The promise is that we will be fully equipped to do all that He wants us to (not necessarily the same as our agenda!!)

Back in Isaiah 58, we are given another promise: ‘…he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.’

None of us escapes the challenges of life. To some degree or other you have come across troubles, heartaches, sickness, stress… and the list goes on.

Here we are promised that in a ‘sun-scorched land’ (= troubles and challenges), He will satisfy our needs and gives us the strength to pull through. What better guide is there than the One above it all, who sees all, and who is all-wise? What better guide is there than Jesus, who has walked the earth as both a man and the Son of God, and lived a perfect God-centred and directed life, and called Himself the Good Shepherd? (1st century shepherds led their sheep!)

I am no gardener, but a well-watered garden sounds like one that is tended, weeded and fruitful. That is a picture of a life lived in reference to God and His Word daily. The spring that never fails reminds me of Jesus’ similar illustration in John 4, whilst talking to the Samaritan woman at the well. He offered her the water of life that never fails – His ever-flowing Spirit within, empowering us to live His way each day.

What a God we have! What a loving heavenly Father! He doesn’t just save us through Jesus’ death and resurrection, He gives us all we need to live from that moment on in a way that pleases and gives glory to Him, until one day we meet Him and we are welcomed home!

So, the question for us all this week is: Who or what are we listening to for guidance? There is only One who knows the Way – His name is Jesus, and His invitation to us is to know His sure and solid guidance through the power of His Spirit within us each and every day.