Brothers and sisters in Christ are family just as sure as our parents and siblings are. When we marry, our in-laws become family as well. It is always a blessing when several of the people in our family can be counted on for confidentiality and wise advice. For me, it was my father, mother and our young pastor as I was growing up. Then my wife and my father-in-law joined that special circle of advisors. After those dear people all died, God put brothers and sisters in Christ in my life to form a new family circle for me.
For Moses, it was his father-in-law, Jethro, who provided some very sound advice. After escaping from Egypt after killing an Egyptian guard who was abusing his countrymen, Moses worked for Jethro, who was the priest of Midian, tending his flocks. Moses married his daughter, Zipporah, and they had two sons. After Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, Jethro brought his daughter and grandsons to where they were camped in the wilderness at the base of the mountain of God. His visit and his advice are recorded in Exodus chapter 18.
There is something Jethro said to Moses that might be overlooked in a quick reading, but it is most important. “If you follow this advice, and God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressure, and all these people will go home in peace.” All advice, no matter who it comes from, must be agreeable to God in order for it to be of value when you put it into practice.
One of my sisters in Christ recognized how sick I was with Covid-19 then she asked God what she should do to help. She got me to the hospital in time and here I sit writing this blog post because of her actions. Sometimes it is action and not advice that we need. That is why we need Christian friends or relatives to be there for us with whatever God prompts them to say or do.
Do you have someone to turn to for sound advice? You do if you are a follower of Jesus Christ and a child of God. The Holy Spirit is not only our Guide and our Comforter, He is our closest Advisor. The neat thing is that when He advises us, we don’t have to run it past God for approval because it is coming directly from God.