(to the tune of "Follow That Dream")
"I'm gonna follow that cloud
wherever that cloud may lead me.
I've got to follow that cloud to find the love i need...
...Keep a-movin, move along, keep a moving..."
Over the Tabernacle of Moses there was a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. When these things moved, the people of God followed. This is a cool, but still mysterious way to be led by the Lord. It is also cool but mysterious to be led by the Lord today (by the leading of His Holy Spirit). Some may argue, some may resist, and some will follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Reading God's Word, hearing what He has said to us, and then choosing to cling to, trust in and rely on what He's told us is simply being obedient and led by God.
I was the guest on a public access show this past Saturday. One of the show regulars related a story about how he had an opportunity to share ("witness") to someone and he not only had the opportunity but the prompting of the Holy Spirit to share about having a relationship with God and he disobeyed or let it get away. And he felt a pang of regret for doing so. This is an everyday example of God leading us in the day-to-days. Now, since I brought it up I should address the topic of disobedience.
When we fail to obey, we should allow feelings of regret -- let 'em come, but only so long as they lead us to repentence. Once we repent before God, then we can tell feelings of regret to get lost, along with our sin. Forgive and forget is a real thing. Going public is another matter, though. If you repent in public, many well-meaning friends will try to console you and maybe even talk you out of repenting. I'm a strong believer in letting a person repent (giving them space). If I see a friend wallowing in regret/guilt and failure, then I'm likely to encourage my friend to trust in God's forgiveness and forget about it and move on. Sometimes it can be healthy to repent in public (and sometimes it's called for -- like if you ripped off an entire church or something), but often it can be done in private before God. If Jesus tells us to approach a brother that offends us one-on-one, it probably means that God cares about dignity and prefers dealing with sin in small, closed circles. (but that's another topic)
One thing I think I'm learning is that I need to spend time in God's Word on a daily basis. If I do that, I'm more likely to hear and sense God's leading. If I neglect that, I can still be led of God, but I won't be as healthy. I might still be in the game, but just not "at the top of it." That's what I want.
Posted by Doug Van Pelt at December 6, 2004 09:33 AM