Why Jesus Encouraged People to Seek the Mentorship of Godly People
Quote: A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing.
M. Luther.
Quote: It is better to train ten people than to do the work of ten people. But it is harder.
Moody.
1. Jesus knew that pupils tend to become like their teachers. Jesus said, "A student is not above his teacher, but every pupil when he is fully trained will be like his teacher." (Luke 6:40) Students tend to adopt their mentor’s ideas, attitudes and behavior. Ask the Lord to help you point people to experienced-godly teachers who can help them become all that the Lord wants them to be and do.
Illustration:Parishioners hard pressed for something to say to the clergy after the service have, according to one minister’s friend said to him, "You always manage to find something to fill up the time." "I don’t care what they say, I like your sermons." "If I’d known you were going to be good today I’d have brought a neighbor." "Did you know there are 243 panes of glass in the windows?" "We shouldn’t make you preach so often."
Arthur Myers in Berkshire Sampler.
2. Jesus knew that people can learn a great deal from the experiences of others. Jesus knew that the writer of Hebrews would write, "But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." (Heb. 5:14)
Application:Ask the Lord to help you get around experts in the fields that you wish to develop in for vocational, ministry and spiritual reasons.
3. Jesus knew that people can learn a great deal of information through the example of a mentor. Jesus said, "I have set an example that you should do as I have done for you... Now that you know these things you will be blessed if you do them." (John 15:15,17)
Application: Ask the Lord to help you to get around spiritual servants who can teach them from their example.
4. Jesus knew that you can tell what people will be like by observing who they regard as their mentors. Jesus said to the Pharisees, Jesus said, "Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit."(Matt. 15:14)
Application: Ask the Lord to help you avoid mentors that do not have spiritual fruit worth reproducing.
Illustration:William A. Ward has said, "The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.
Progress Magazine, December 23, 1992.
5. Jesus knew that the best mentors are the ones with the best fruit. Jesus said, "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit."(Matt. 12:33)
Ask the Lord to give you the patience, discernment and wisdom to determine the best kinds of fruitful people to emulate.
6. Jesus knew that everyone needs to continue to seek greater knowledge and wisdom. When Jesus was twelve years old he pursued knowledge and wisdom in the temple. Luke writes of Jesus, "After three days his parents found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions... He said, "Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?" And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." (Luke 2:46,49,52)
Ask the Lord to help you never stop growing in wisdom and knowledge by refusing to get around more mature mentors.
7. Jesus knew that all people need counsel from Godly people. The Lord Jesus remembered the words of Solomon who wrote, "For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure." (Prov. 11:14)
Ask the Lord to help you consult many godly advisers before you make important decisions.
8. Jesus knew that associating with wise people helps everyone become wiser. The Lord Jesus remembered the words of Proverbs 13:20 which says, "He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm."
Ask the Lord to help you to associate with wise people in all areas of life so that you can be better able to carry out the whole will of God for your life and ministry.
9. Jesus knew that spiritual people have a hungry appetite for more righteousness. Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." (Matt. 5:6)
Application: Ask the Lord to help you get around righteous, honest and upright people who can help you be more complete in Christ.
10. Jesus knew that we must be humble in order to be teachable. The Lord Jesus remembered the words of David who wrote, "He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way." (Psa. 25:9)
Application: Ask the Lord to help you to be more teachable, humble and inquisitive of Godly mentors.
11. Jesus knew that we should not rely on only one mentor, but many. The Lord Jesus remembered what Solomon wrote, "In a multitude of counselors there is victory." (Prov. 11:14)
Application: Avoid the temptation to grow dependent on only your favorite teachers. Ask the Lord to give you a plurality of godly leaders to learn from.
12. Jesus knew that we need to learn how to ask the right questions of our mentors. The Lord Jesus ask people many questions as He learned from everyone. Jesus knew that Paul would write about people who failed to ask the right question.
Example: Paul wrote, "Always learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." (2 Tim.3:7)
13. Jesus knew that we need to learn how to listen, retain and apply what our mentors have taught us. Jesus knew that his brother James would write a stern warning to his people, "Be doers of the word and not merely hearers only who deceive yourself." (James 1:22)
Application: Ask the Lord to help you be a better listener, retainer and applier of truth
Concluding Illustration:A Lutheran newsletter has some tongue-in-cheek suggestions for church members unhappy with their pastor: "Simply send a copy of this letter to six other churches who are tired of their ministers. Then bundle up your pastor and send him to the church at the top of the list. Add your name to the bottom of the list. In one week you will receive 16,436 ministers, and one of them should be a dandy. Have faith in this letter. One man broke the chain and got his old minister back."
Source Unknown.
Praise God for the following attributes:
1. Fills us with joy
2. Faithful to the end
3. Frank and true
4. Friend at all times
5. First and the last
6. Feels our pain
7. Fulfillment and satisfaction
8. Fearful in praises doing wonders
9. Favor giver
10. Fullness of joy in HIs presence
11. Finisher of what He begins
12. Fellowship of the Holy Spirit
13. Fearful One
14. Father who has compassion
15. Feeder of the hungry souls
16. Fearless against all enemies
17. Father over all creation
18. Faithful witness and true
19. Faithful in love, truth and companionship
20. Faith Author and Guider
21. Fair One who has the right to what He wants
22. Fragrance of the knowledge of Him in every place
23. Freedom giver and breaker of all bondages
24. Friend from my youth
25. Fortress in whom we take refuge
26. Foundation as the basis for every good construction
27. Foe to the opposers of God’s will
28. Fire that ignites, inspires and inflames
29. Firstborn over all creation
30. Forerunner who went before us entered in on our behalf
31. Fountain of living water
32. Frees us from the law through the Spirit
33. Fruit Giver and Pruner
34. Frined of Sinners
35. Fairest of ten thousand
36. Fairest Lord Jesus Ruler of all Nature
37. Father of all
38. Family creator and maintainer
39. Far-sighted as you see the end from the beginning
40. Fervent in passion
41. Fighter against all that opposes His kingdom
42. Field owner and harvester
43. Filter of all that is not in His will
44. Finisher
45. Fitter of what is best, right and appropriate
46. Fisher of Men
47. Fixer of broken hearts
48. Focus of all creation
49. Food provider for all who look to you in faith
50. Forbidder by refusing to allow anything not in accordance with Your will
51. Forgiver of our past, present and future sins
52. Forever past and future God
53. Foretaste of glory divine
54. Foreteller of what is to come
55. Forward looking God
56. Fortifier of the weak and vulnerable
57. Fortune owner
58. Finder of the lost and lonely
59. Free to do whatever You want with anyone
60. From You and Through You and To you are all things
61. Fuel at work in us both to will and do of your good pleasure
62. Future knower
63. Furnisher of what is needed
