Presenting ...
... a weekly letter of encouragement.
Singapore
August 9, 1995
Good Morning!
Last week we talked about the twin problems of ISOLATION
AND LONELINESS and the importance of having a mentoring relationship.
We listed four of seven good reasons for such a
relationship: Focus, Wisdom, Encouragement, and Networking.
Here are three more reasons:
MODEL - "People will learn at the school
of example, and they will learn at none other," stated
Edmund Burke. Remember the little girl lying in bed who was afraid
of the dark? "Mommie, would you come in here...I'm afraid."
Mother: "Just ask Jesus to help you."
Little girl: "But I need someone with skin on."
A mentor is someone "with skin on."
Paul: "Be imitators of me, just as I am also
of Christ." (I Corinthians 11:1)
MATURITY - A mentor who is committed to his protégé,
offers his wisdom and resources to help him succeed in making
wise choices.
"The things you have learned and received and heard and
seen in me, practice... and the God of peace shall be with you."
(Philippians 4:9)
EMPOWERMENT+: Giving another person authority.
You and I need people to challenge us to change ourselves and
our world. And we seem to need people who will "give us
permission" to do great things for God. Note the commissioning
of Barnabas and Paul (Saul) who then blazed a trail for
the Gospel through Asia:
"...The Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for Me Barnabas
and Saul (Paul) for the work to which I have called them...Then...(the
spiritual leaders) laid their hands on them, (and) set them free
for this work." (Acts 13:2, 3 - NAS; Phillips)
Let's keep in mind the fact that one of Satan's master strategies
is to exploit our proclivity toward ISOLATION AND LONELINESS
by dividing and conquering.
It was no accident that Jesus sent the disciples out in pairs.
And of course Solomon reminds us:
"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE BECAUSE...IF EITHER OF THEM
FALLS, THE ONE WILL LIFT UP HIS COMPANION. BUT WOE TO THE
ONE WHO FALLS WHEN THERE IS NOT ANOTHER TO LIFT HIM UP."
(Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10)
My prayer is that you are having a great week!
Dwight Hill
+ Adapted from "Mentoring Today", Bobb Biehl -
Spring 1994
© Copyright 1996 Dwight Hill. Unlimited permission to copy or use is hereby granted subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.
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