CHRISTIAN MENTORSHIP
"Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." (Philippians 4 verse 9, King James Version)
The coming of the Son of God into the world has brought us much clarity as to what God expects of us as His children. Jesus came as the Light of the world (John 8 verse 12, John 9 verse 5); revealing His Father to us, teaching us to live for His pleasure. In everything, Jesus is our Grand Example (Matthew 11 verse 29; John 13 verse 15; 1st Peter 2 verse 21; 1st John 2 verse 6) because He came primarily to do His Father's will (Psalms 40 verse 7, Hebrews 10 verse 7, John 4 verse 34 and John 6 verse 38). He could therefore boldly tell His disciples to follow Him (Matthew 4 verse 19).
Before you can qualify to be a good example of Christ for others to follow, you have to meet the criteria for followership enumerated in Job 23 verses 11 to 12:
"My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food." Jesus summarized His existence thus:
"For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." (John 6 verse 38). See also Hebrews 10 verse 7. This was the secret of His success as the best Mentor that ever lived.
One notable thing about the Lord Jesus is that He didn't say one thing and do another thing. What He did was what He taught, thus making Him a good example to follow.
"The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, ... " (Acts 1 verse 1)
Are you a Pastor, or a teacher, or a parent or a guardian, or one in the position of leadership? Can you be judged a perfect example for your congregation, students, children or ward to follow? Do you say one thing and do another thing? Can God trust you to represent Him well in this dark world to the people around you? As a believer in Christ, your responsibility is to strive to walk even as He walked.
"He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." (1st John 2 verse 6).
Having someone in our lives to guide us in the faith cannot be overemphasized. Although we have the Person of the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us through (Gal 5 verse 16), God would sometimes place around us humans to mentor us in the faith. It was so with King Joash who began to rule in Jerusalem at 7 years of age and had Johoiada, his uncle by his side as his mentor (2 Chronicles 24 verses 11 and 14). The object of a good mentor is to live not to please himself, but to so act as to save others (1st Corinthians 10 verse 33). Besides, the Christian mentor strives through his life and teaching to impact others so that the truth of the Gospel can remain undiluted (Galatians 2 verse 5). "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." (2nd Timothy 2 verse 2)
Look at Apostle Paul! Many times, he urged people to follow his footsteps (Philippians 3 verse 17; 1st Corinthians 4 verse 16) because he was sure that he followed Christ's example.
"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ." (1st Corinthians 11 verse 1). In 2nd Thessalonians 3 verse 7, he gave the reason for asking to be followed, saying:
"For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;".
He was bold to recommend his way and manner of life to his followers because he walked orderly in the faith.
"Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: ..." (Philippians 4 verse 9).
God has called us to be good ambassadors of Jesus Christ (2nd Corinthians 5 verse 20; Ephesians 6 verse 20), His Son. As members of His Body, it behooves us to be good examples of Him, especially now that the Bridegroom tarries and is soon expected. The world needs to know Jesus and only through us can this be done. Dare to be a good ambassador of Christ and a good Christian mentor?
PRAYER:
Dearest Heavenly Father, even as we are in the last days, I live as a true replica of Christ Jesus, to the end that others see and know Him through me, in Jesus' mighty name.