Reaching and Teaching - Girlfriends in God - October 17, 2014
October 17, 2014
Reaching and Teaching
Gwen Smith
Today’s Truth
Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind… (Titus 2:3-5, NIV).
Friend to Friend
One day after I had led worship at church, another worship leader approached me. She is a hip, just-turned-30, Jesus-loving-chick. To my surprise, she asked if I would consider becoming her mentor.
What? I thought at first… I’m WAY too young to be your mentor!
Then I woke up from the dream and remembered that I am a wise-on-my-good-days, slightly-seasoned-40-something girl with a decade of life, marriage, mothering, and ministry on her.
Excitement and trepidation danced together in my heart when I prayerfully agreed.
Over the years I have come to realize that mentoring is very important. I’ve been deeply blessed and rightfully challenged by the wisdom of women who are slightly more gray and less green than me.
Have you ever longed for advice but didn’t know who to talk to? I know I have.
We need spiritual mentors to take our hands as we face life and ministry challenges. Likewise, we also need to grab hold of younger spiritual hands for the journey: to bring them along in Christ, to help strengthen their spiritual muscles, to encourage, teach, and admonish.
In a relay race, a runner reaches forward to grab the baton from a teammate who has run ahead of them. She also extends the baton back to the runner behind who is about to take off on her own leg of the race. Just like the runners in a relay race, we need to be reaching forward and reaching backward. Reaching and teaching!
Look at what the apostle Paul wrote to his disciple, Titus, about how women should do life with other women:
“Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God” (Titus 2:3-5, NIV).
Paul threw down the gauntlet and challenged mature women of faith to step up to the plate and help younger women know how to serve Christ. Show her how to love her husband. Teach her to live set-apart and Spirit-led… beyond addictions, distractions, and complications. Train her to honor God with excellence in the work place, at home, and in relationships. Make disciples!
The Bible says in Mark 6:29, that after John the Baptist died his disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. I find it interesting that the word disciples is used instead of the word friends or associates.
A disciple is defined as, “Someone who follows another person or another way of life and who submits himself to the discipline (teaching) of that leader or way. In the Bible the term “disciple” is found almost exclusively in the Gospels and the Book of Acts, the only exceptions being Isaiah 8:16 and less directly Isaiah 50:4 and 54:13, where the same Hebrew word is translated “learned” and “taught,” respectively. Yet clearly wherever there is a teacher and those taught, the idea of discipleship is present.[1]”
John poured his life into guiding and teaching these men in the truth and hope of Christ. So, let me ask you this, if a godly man like John the Baptist, who was set apart for a special God-mission to prepare the way of the LORD, reached forward to Jesus for guidance and wisdom, how much more must we? Though he was not one of the twelve disciples hand picked by Jesus during His years of public ministry, John the Baptist was, indeed, a disciple of the Lord.
What a beautiful example we see here. John WAS a disciple and he MADE disciples. With God’s help and a little effort, we can too.
I challenge you to prayerfully connect with one or two women this week to discuss this mentoring topic.
Reach ahead. Get a mentor.
Reach behind. Get a mentee.
Glean wisdom. Give wisdom. Grow. Dream. Achieve!
When you do, I am confident that deep blessings, increased efficacy, and maturity will be evidenced in your life and in the lives of those with whom you connect.
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord,
You are so good to instruct us toward relationships… both with You and with others. Would you help me to grow in faith? Would you use me to make a difference in the lives of other women as well? Please lead me in Your will and in Your ways.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Do you have a spiritual mentor? Have you spoken with her recently? Why not call or email her to set up a date to meet for coffee or lunch this week?
Are you mentoring anyone right now? If you are not a spiritual mentor yet or don’t have a spiritual mentor, take a few moments to seek God’s heart about this for your life.
More from the Girlfriends
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[1] Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.
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