Day 120 – Mentoring (1 & 2 Timothy)

I’ve had many great mentors in my life.  They just come with official titles like mother, husband, friend, supervisor, Sunday School teacher, college instructor.  My friend, Tanisha, was a “Big Sister” for many years taking her “little sister” to events, calling her, tracking her down when she moved, and generally just being available.  What great mentors offer is time.  Not out of obligation or for compensation but out of a genuine desire to help another person.

Edward and I were lucky enough to have spiritual mentors…no, not lucky…God definitely orchestrated it.  Our church was doing the “40 Days of Purpose” by Rick Warren and decided to do a series of home groups for adults who were teaching Sunday School or otherwise not in a regular Sunday School class of their own.  Edward and I decided to do this since we hadn’t found a Sunday School class that we fit into.  Ed and Judy Compton sat at our table and offered to host the group.  By the end of the study, there were 4 couples who were committed to this Friday night Bible study, so Ed Compton offered to take a leadership role and lead us in a weekly Bible study.  We all agreed to “see how it goes”.  For 3 years, Ed and Judy taught us in their home often lasting 2 to 3 hours.  They instilled basic principles of daily worship, Bible study, and prayer as well as the importance of tithing and serving.  They offered an excellent example of a Christian marriage (with ups and downs – not just the glossy, touched up version).  They offered time, love, support, and accountability.  “Maria, why aren’t you serving?”  “Have you found a place to serve yet?”  “Maria, you’d be a great fit for FAITH.  Can I sign you up?”  It was Ed Compton’s push that got me in the FAITH program where I learned the value of sharing my faith with other people.

It’s the mentor in Paul that I see in his letters to Timothy.  He seems concerned about Timothy maintaining a high level of faith, keeping spiritual standards, and growing in this spiritual gift as Timothy in turn mentored the church body at Ephesus.  “Train yourself in godliness…Command and teach these things…Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress…Persist in this, for by doing so you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (1 Timothy 4:7-16)   

Paul also spends time praising Timothy and encouraging him.  It’s this balance in roles that makes the mentoring relationship so influential and important.  “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.” (2 Timothy 1:5)  Paul also recognizes that, despite the negative influences, Timothy has chosen the right path which Paul reinforces by saying, “You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness…” (v. 3:10)

Paul writes, “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” (1 Timothy 1:5)  A mentor must indict us when acting outside of our faith, but this charge should be based in purity, honesty, love, and in God’s word.  “All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…” (1 Timothy 3:16)  Mentoring is like coaching in that the focus is in improving ”player” and “team” performance using the playbook.  As a member of God’s team, I look to pastors, teachers, and mentors to coach me according to our playbook, the Bible.  This process equips me to coach others.

My prayer today:

Thank you for the mentors who invested in me, Lord!  Bless them as they continue to mentor others into meaningful relationship with you.  Help me to have the commitment to mentor others and the humility to seek counsel and be led by the mentors you place in my life.  Amen

Add a comment September 17, 2010

Day 11 – Wise, understanding, and experienced men (Deuteronomy 1 – 4)

Did you miss me the last couple of days?  I was celebrating life with family and lucky enough to experience what the Israelites did as they were about to enter the promised land.  Israel was gaining wisdom and guidance in their last days with Moses before crossing over Jordan into the promised land without him.  I spent the weekend with my grandfather talking about my faith and hearing about his.  Why have I waited so long to learn about his faith?  Deuteronomy 1:13 – 14 says, “Choose for your tribes wise, understanding, and experienced men, and I will appoint them as your heads,” to which the people replied, “The thing that you have spoken is good for us to do.”  Why do we miss the opportunities to learn spiritual matters from our parents and grandparents?

I expressed to grandfather how I felt convicted this spring after our church had a consultation that revealed our disobedience with our lack of outreach.  I said, “Grandpa, I have been a Christian for over 20 years.  What do I have to show for it?  If this was a paid, employment type position, I would have been fired long ago.  Too many of us sit in the pew week after week being professional students.”  He responded, “Your thinking is exactly right, but here’s where you are going wrong…and I’ve been where you are…age gives time for reflection on these matters…when the time comes, God will be looking at who you (pointing inward) and not what you did.  Church is good for getting you to teach Sunday School, doing things that need to be done, but not always good at helping you to be what you should be.  In this way, the church is not preparing people to age.”  We went on to discuss how the church does not take advantage of the wisdom and experience of people his age to mentor people my age.  The Israelites often missed the point of the spiritual teachings of Moses who was right there before them….thousands of years later, I’m seeing how many opportunities I’ve missed to gain from the spiritual understanding and experience of my parents and grandparents who are uniquely positioned to know my childhood, background, strengths, and weaknesses unlike the other spiritual leaders in my life.

As our parents and grandparents do for us, Moses prepares the Israelites for the next phase in their lives.  He reminds them of the past saying, “These forty years the Lord your God has been with you.  You have lacked nothing.” (Deut.2:7b)  Then he cautions them for the future saying, “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life.  Make them known to your children and your children’s children.” (Deut. 4:9)  “Therefore you shall keep his statutes and his commandments, which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land that the Lord you God is giving you for all time.”  Doesn’t this passage apply today in sharing with others so that we can enjoy the land of heaven forever?

“God willing” as my grandpa would say…I will have another opportunity to seek wise, understanding, and experienced men in two weeks.  What questions should I ask?  What do I need to know that only a wiser and more experienced Christian can tell me?

My prayer for today:

Lord almighty, thank you for the opportunity to talk about spiritual matters with family this weekend.  I don’t want to be the like the Israelites who carelessly missed some of the important messages from God delivered through Moses.  Help me to take full advantage of my opportunities to gain wisdom and understanding from the experienced Christians in my life – especially family members who are uniquely positioned to guide me.  Amen

Add a comment May 23, 2010