A Paul

Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. (Acts 16:6 NIV)

All of us should have a Paul in our lives.  Paul was a mentor to Timothy, Titus, and many others.  He ate with them. He travelled with them.  He taught them.  He walked with them.  Paul was a good mentor to them all.

When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. (Acts 16:7-8 NIV)

Mentors are different from pastors, teachers or theologians.  They are people who spend time with us.  They may be pastors, teachers, or theologians, but the important distinction is that mentors spend more time with us.  They are friends, but friends who know more, have lived more, and have more to offer us than we have to offer them in return.

During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. (Acts 16:9-10 NIV)

Paul took his companions with him.  He was their mentor.  They learned from him as they travelled with him.  Our mentors may be in the form of coworkers, best friends, parents, teachers, bosses, or next door neighbors.  Mentors are around enough to ask questions, because they are already a big part of our lives.  Mentors walk with us like Paul did with his disciples and Jesus did with his apostles.  Mentors help us apply Godly wisdom to everyday life circumstances.

From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. (Acts 16:11-12 NIV)

How about you?  Do you have mentors who are close to you?