September 2, 2018 - - I Corinthians 4:15 - - Who is speaking into your life?

For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I become in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

I Corinthians 4:15 ESV

There are so many books on Christianity. So many radio stations offering guidance in the faith. There are, of course, a plethora of sermons you can find on line. There are countless guides but not many fathers. What is the difference? All the books, radio, media and sermons are arm's length. A father knows you well enough to speak into your life the great truth of the Word that is particularly applicable to you and your situation.

We are blind to our faults. The faults we do acknowledge we can excuse through various justifications and rationalizations. As Christians we all need spiritual directors. We need those who are fathers in the faith.

Eugene Peterson offers these three tasks as the particular work of a spiritual director:

1. God is always doing something: an active grace is shaping this life into a mature salvation;

2. responding to God is not sheer guesswork: the Christian community has acquired wisdom through the centuries that provides guidance;

3. each soul is unique: no wisdom can simple be applied without discerning the particulars of this life; this situation.

(E. H. Peterson "Working the Angles" page 150)

One cannot be a Christian without going to church. The Church is the visible expression of the Body of Christ--the people for whom He died and the people whom He rules in glory through the power of His Spirit. And it is in the context of attending a local church that we find worthy fathers (spiritual directors) in the faith who shape us and bring our attention to the things God is doing and thereby sharpen us for holy service.

Majestic Creator, God of greatly varied splendid and beautiful works, thank You for giving us Jesus Christ. Thank You for working out in our lives Your holy purposes. Spirit of God, so purify our hearts that Christ will be our only King and the Captain of our Salvation. Awaken in us, Triune God, the profound truth and deepening awareness that You Who have begun a good work in us will see it to completion. Spirit of God, grant to us, the gift of discerning who might be a father to us in the faith. Spirit Who guides us in all truth, give us the patient love and desire to be a spiritual director in the lives of those around us who are seeking such help. In Jesus' precious Name we pray~Amen.