When we think about relationships that help us walk together with God, it’s easy to let the mind go to a mentor who has made a real difference in your life. Maybe you think about a best friend who was there for you in thick and thin. Usually, though, we don’t think of a third type of relationship that can spur us on more than the first two. This is the relationship you have with a mentee, protégé, a Timothy or a Titus. These are the people into whom you are building a walk together with God.
To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. (Titus 1:4-5 NIV)
Notice how Paul refers to Titus: “my true son in our common faith.” Titus is not Paul’s biological son. He is, however, a spiritual son – the one who is younger in the faith and learning from the more mature Paul.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God's work--which is by faith. (1 Timothy 1:1-4 NIV)
Timothy has the same “true son” designation from Paul in his letter. Both of these young men learned from Paul and eventually became pastors of their own churches. Paul writes letters to them to instruct them on how to recognize true, God-following, leaders. They needed to recognize God’s design for leadership so the church would continue on as Christ intended. They must have learned well, because we are still here.
When we build our faith into someone else, it helps us grow. Something happens when we move from the place of believing something to the next step of teaching that same thing. Teaching requires more understanding. Mentoring requires more patience. Building requires more grace. I’m sure that a big part of Paul’s maturing process came from his work with people like Timothy and Titus. The same is true for us today.
The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. (1 Timothy 1:5-6 NIV)
How about you? Do you have a protégé – a person whom you teach and build up in the faith? Does mentoring others cause you to grow? How?
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