An incident this week led me to experience how precious and important it is for spiritual covering by God-fearing believers who are connected to God and His word. It gave me insight into the possible workings of spiritual covering that trickles downwards through accountability, sharpening the beauty and sacredness of the otherwise misunderstood a-word.
When accountability is removed in the name of 'privacy' and 'it’s personal so I can’t say and I won’t say', we're essentially removing the said party from the benefit and blessing of being under spiritual covering! That’s doing more harm than good, really. Increasingly, I am of opinion that discipleship is to a community affair — none of us know enough to take full responsibility over someone's life, so why not tap into a collective wisdom and anointing that God has given to us? Perhaps then, each body part can be more effective in carrying out his/her Christian responsibilities.
I think I have, on a couple of levels, neglected the covering of those God has entrusted to me. Sorry Father, for I have not been a faithful enough steward. I am not diligent in praying for them, I'm not diligent in checking in on them as well. thank you for your grace that has carried me through thus far and will continue to carry me through. I am your humble servant with nothing much to offer, but you've graciously said that your grace is sufficient. Thank you — for you are faithful even when I am not playing my part — you've been drawing your beloved closer to yourself and I'm glad, to have the privilege to witness them. You're a good good Father, and You alone are the initiator and sustainer of our individual relationships with you.
Thankful as well for my mentor — I sought her advice and confirmation on a particular matter and found myself repeating certain wisdom that she has imparted word-for-word ( if not, the key words), to someone else who needed to hear it. How privileged! To glean from the wealth of wisdom that comes with her years of experiences and connection with God, to prevent myself and others from falling head on into traps that are not so unique after all. Thankful, but also made cautious — very, cautious — as well. There is heightened awareness that this task of being an overseer is indeed noble. Each word, each teaching, each impartation have the ability to impact not only one, but it has profound impact on the next person, the next next person, and the next next next person... You become an authority of some sorts, and the words you speak — they hold weight. As mentors and disciple-makers, we have the ability to impact the strength of spiritual legacy that is far greater, more direct than we can ever imagine. Regardless of our preference, or the kind of influence we think we have, it happens.
So then, what do we impart? Are we careful with the words we say, the things we do, the lives we live? Do we first and foremost take lead from God? Do we test our beliefs against God's and reconcile all areas to be in agreement with Him? Do we model what it looks like to love and honour God in our decision-making? Does the narrative of our lives speak of men and women who stare down giants with relentless trust and faith in the One who is Sovereign and strong? What kind of letter of Christ are we — to both believers and non-believers? Does the light of Christ shine through? Do we love God and love people with our all? Do we inspire someone else to love God a little harder, to be a little more selfless in loving others?
Though nothing is to be done for performance, all should be done for the edification of another. Everything we do — even more so for disciple-makers — ought to be done with sincerity to both God and man, with full intent to glorify and honour God with our lives, for this is our true and proper worship.
You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
Your life is the most powerful testimony of God. Please, let us all be on guard, to lead lives that honours God in private and in public. 一言既出，驷马难追
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