One of the truly great things the Apostle Paul ever said is recorded for us in II Timothy 2:2. He speaks of the awesome power of one- on- one discipleship, by saying to Timothy,
The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these commit to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”
Look at the multiplication of Paul’s life message in that one sentence? The light of Paul’s life goes from Paul to Timothy, then from Timothy to “faithful men,” then from faithful men to “others also.” That’s four generations of Truth! Wow! Only God knows the scope & power of that kind of influence.
Years ago, a wise man said to me, “I’ll not ask you how you are doing, but I will ask you how others are doing because of what you’ve been doing?” I was a college student when Loren Sanny of the Navigators asked me that. At the time, I was a young evangelist, content to preach where ever anyone would listen. I had never thought of the idea that we can “pass the torch” to others by deliberately looking for “faithful men,” and then pouring your life into them. I understood preaching to crowds, but not trying to make a difference through just “one.”
Today, some forty years later, I can look back over my life and see that the best efforts of my life as a follower of Christ, have been those times I took the time to teach, train, and disciple others. Those faithful men & women are the fruit of my life. The just “one” have become a multitude!
Today, what part of your life is given “on purpose” to mentoring someone else? As a parent, it can begin with your child, or your mate. I am continually reminded that someone else needs what I just learned from God. Am I willing to look for that faithful man or woman who will let me mentor them?
My thought for the day: are you a river of life flowing into others or are you becoming a stagnant pool, where the blessing stops?
That’s something to ponder!
