With Ray Ortlund Sr. in 2004
By Bill Gaultiere © 2011
Much of who I am comes from my spiritual mentors. The same is true for you. The men or women who you have looked to as Christ’s Ambassadors are used by God to shape you and your ministry to others (2 Corinthians 5:20). Nurturing those relationships and memories is vital.
Ray Ortlund, Sr. was a wonderful spiritual father and soul guide to me. He discipled me to Jesus and God used him to raise me up to start the ministry of Soul Shepherding.
I especially remember Ray looking me in the eyes as we were talking over lunch one day: “Bill, be like Jim Elliot. Be all and only for Jesus! Be on fire and let your life flame out for his kingdom!”
Be All and Only for Jesus
“Be all and only for Jesus.” That’s how Ray lived and it’s how he died. “Spiritually, Ray was strong to the end,” his wife Anne told me recently. “He had many struggles lasting ten to fifteen minutes when he was gasping desperately for air, and when they subsided he would often say, ‘This is God’s gift to me!’—Ray so totally trusted the Lord.”
I keep thinking about Ray gasping for air. Even in those frightening, painful moments in which he couldn’t breathe he relied on Jesus and rejoiced in him.
It’s easy to forget that spiritually we’re all gasping for air continually, desperate for the spiritual oxygen that only comes as we trust in the Lord Jesus who breathes his Spirit into us (John 20:22).
Take a moment now to thank God for someone who has encouraged you to “Be all and only for Jesus.” It’s the breath of life for your soul!
More Soul Shepherding
“The One Benediction You (and Others) Need” is a short post inspired by the Psalm 20 blessing that Ray offered me and my son, who Ray also mentored.
“Be Devoted to Christ like Ray Ortlund.” I wrote this article shortly after Ray died in 2007 to share with others the wonderful, life-shaping lessons that I learned from Ray. I love reading and re-reading these precious insights and you will too!
Soul Shepherding is a ministry for those who minister to others—pastors, pastors’ wives, missionaries, and other Christian leaders and care-givers. We offer counseling, spiritual mentoring, seminars, and retreats to help people “Be all and only for Jesus.”
Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. & Kristi Gaultiere, Psy.D. ~ http://www.soulshepherding.org
