TUTELAGE. That sounds like such an
old-fashioned word, doesn’t it? In most
everyday circles we likely do not hear many people using this word in their
everyday conversation. But as I’ve prepared
to pen the words of this long overdue article for our church blog, I heard God
say that one word to me. I looked up
some definitions of the word and I guess with what has been going on in my
spiritual journey since I’ve last “chatted” with you – it makes sense! This is a specific place of learning that I
have come to anticipate daily not only as I sit at the feet of Jesus, but as I
walk through my day. But it is truly
what I soak in and come to understand in the quiet times that allows me to
practice and act on in the real living that takes place when I leave my
“desk”.
Tutelage actually means the teaching
or instruction of an individual student by a teacher. That would be me, of course, as the student,
being taught one-on-one by the Teacher.
Yup, you’ve got it. The Teacher
that I’ve sat under in tutelage in recent weeks has been none other than Jesus!
A deeper meaning of the word is that it is an act or process of serving as
guardian or protector. And that is
exactly what I have received from my Teacher; He has totally looked out after
me in all of the circumstances that have been flung my way and He has guarded
me like no other one could. I’ve known I
was safe from any and all attacks of the enemy of my soul, no matter what form
he would choose to come in. When I sat
at my “desk” or on the floor of my “war room – my prayer room” … He tutored me
personally and imparted knowledge and skills to me as I opened His Word and
drank in the truths. What I didn’t
understand, He made clear – a bit at a time.
Sometimes I had to live it out for real before it made total sense.
In this time of daily coaching, I have begun to realize that I
am being conditioned: conditioned to believe and to receive everything that God sends my way … and conditioned to be strong
enough to not receive anything that
comes my way that is not from God! Did
you get that? Go back and read it
again!! Responding to everything in my
life that way has been nothing short of life-changing! It becomes a cry-of-the-heart prayer that
transforms into a way of life that brings liberty and freedom. This is
truly how God meant for us to live! Yet,
even as believers, it takes most of us a lifetime of taking on the weight and
the shackles and chains of captivity thrust upon us by the enemy – before we
are ready to be done with that once and for all!
Under the tutelage of my Lord, I have been cultivated, prepared
and readied for not only my todays, but for what lies ahead of me. I have been developed, directed, guided, and
nurtured. I have learned and then I’ve
failed again. But my Coach picks me up
and stands me up on solid ground and tells me I can do it. He tells me to try again. And when I succeed, He picks me up and swings
me around in a celebratory dance complete with whoops and hollers! Yes, Jesus gets excited about the progress His
students make! And I have loved being a student in these past weeks more than I
ever have in my past! When morning
dawns, I can hardly wait to take my place at His feet and listen and learn ~
and then go out and live it. My favorite
parts of the sessions are the dialogue we share. I love when He invites me to pour out my
heart in all honesty before Him. I love
knowing that I have His full attention, for after all, it’s just Him and me! Sometimes I feel a little chided when He
makes me aware of some tests I have to re-take so that I get it right – but He
is always so tender and caring and patient with me. I can tell He wants me to experience the best
and the whole of all He has to teach me, even more than I desire it. That makes me want to please Him, though,
even more. And I love when He smiles at
me with those eyes that hold me in their gaze; for then I know He loves that I
desire to lavish my love on Him each new day, making our relationship as
life-giving as the air I breathe.
There are really no words to flesh out the spiritual intimacy
between God and man – in this case, me!
Or ~ you! But I know more deeply
than I’ve ever known, that He wants us to come and sit at His feet for many
reasons: for fellowship, forgiveness,
learning, love, receiving His good and perfect gifts, and battling the enemy in
His Name so we can reject his attempts to destroy everything and everyone we
hold close to our hearts! And, dear
ones, there is SO much more! We’ve just
barely scratched the surface about this journey under the tutelage of our
Father, His Son, and the Holy Spirit!
But let me tell you, when they Team-Teach, we can never remain the
same! How we live changes! I’d love to hear your stories, because we are in this time of instruction for a
purpose far greater than we can ever imagine.
Lord Jesus, have Your way in our
lives, I pray!
REMEMBER . . .
“In all your
ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
~ Proverbs 3:6
~ Proverbs 3:6
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug & Debbie
