The Mentor.

Many years ago when I was a teenager I was just learning about all these extra books that are used for aids in bible studies. I had recently learned of the existence of  Strong’s Concordance, of various expositories, and all these extra dictionaries that can help a bible student along.

On one particular visit into my local bible bookstore I met a man from my church. He was studying at Bible College and was looking through some books also. We chatted and I told him that I was just learning about these new study books and didn’t really know what to look for in my searches. There was just so much to chose from.

He then took a few moments to give me some guidelines on which publisher or author to choose, and how to select a particular book to suit my needs. That conversation stayed in my memory for the rest of my days. He had mentored me without him even knowing it.

There have been other mentors for me over the years. Some were able to guide and help me by talking and teaching me biblical stuff. Others were mentors simply by their friendship, conduct and daily application of their christian life.

And this has been the process along my own christian life. Even when I didn’t feel close to God, He still had people stay close by me to help and guide me along.

But being a mentor is nothing new. The bible is filled with stories of people who were mentors…

Moses, the great leader of the Israelites, served as a mentor to Joshua. He guided and trained Joshua to eventually take over his leadership role…

Exodus ch24 (13) Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God.

Elijah was told by God to select Elisha and to invest time and knowledge into him, taking him under his wing and training him in prophetic ministry…

1st Kings ch19 (16) …and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.

Naomi mentored Ruth into the habits, customs and ways of an Israelite woman. This was to prove instrumental in who Ruth was to marry…

Ruth ch1 (16) But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. (17) Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me." (18) When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her. (19) So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem.

And so the list goes on. Paul mentored Timothy in matters of faith, doctrine, and ministry. Barnabas, Luke, Peter and Paul were all men who mentored others in their christian walks.

And, ofcourse, Jesus Himself was, and still is, our mentor…

Matthew ch28 (18) Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (19) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

And Jesus still mentors us today through His Holy Spirit…

John ch16 (13) But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth…

Why don’t we be a mentor for others? Sometimes all it takes is a little conversation. “A word in due season”. And those words may not mean anything to anyone right away, but over time God will take them and apply them.

Every wilderness experience in Sinai, whether good or bad, was either meant to teach the Israelites something new (Succoth, Marah, Elim, etc), or to remind them of something old. And that’s how God works with us when we allow ourselves to be open to His words. Every experience or relationship we have as christians is meant to show us something new about God, His Church or His creation. We all learn from each other under the guidance of the Holy spirit and the Scriptures.

I need Thee every hour, Most gracious Lord.
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.

I need Thee, oh, I need Thee. Every hour I need Thee.
Oh, bless me now, my Saviour. I come to Thee.
 
Email - TheseLivelyOracles@hotmail.com
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