DO YOU HAVE A MENTOR?

LENT--DAY 9

SCRIPTURE

Philippians 3:17-20 (NRSV)

Our citizenship is in heaven

Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

DEVOTION

Today’s scripture reading reminds me of the importance of having a Christian mentor. The dictionary defines the word “mentor” as, “a wise and trusted counselor or teacher.”

For some of us, our first Christian mentors were our parents, grandparents, or godparents. For others, our mentors were Sunday school teachers, missionaries, or pastors. And for some of the rest of us, we may have had a trusted neighbor, friend, or colleague who introduced us to Christ!

It doesn’t really matter who mentors you in the faith, as long as they have a real and true relationship with God through Jesus Christ, read and believe in the veracity of the Bible, pray without ceasing, and show forth their love for God and for others through the gifts of time, talent, and treasure with a joyful heart!

For those of us who were mentored by such individuals, we received a very special gift. Paul says, “join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.”

It is a grand thing to look for--and find--a person willing to walk with you on your Christian journey! Whether you are a baby in Christ just starting out, or an old stalwart of the faith baptized fifty or more years, there is always somebody who can teach us something about walking with Christ!

Today, I pray that each of us would take a look around us and find at least one person that we wish to approach with the request for mentorship. Perhaps you can meet with this person once a month, share your journey, solicit wise counsel, and receive prayer.

I have been exceptionally blessed by those who mentored me as a child and by those who continue to do so now that I am an adult. Even though I am in pastoral ministry and often mentor others, I never neglect to seek my own role models so that I can continue to grow in Christ--from glory to glory! How about you?

Let us pray:

Holy God, thank you for those wise Christians in our lives who have taken the time to mentor us as we walk with you. Please forgive me for those times that I have been unwilling to hear and heed their wise counsel. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I will be receptive to your word, even when it is in the mouths of others. I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaL

ANNOUNCEMENT

During the Lenten Season, all Good News readers are challenged to forward this blog to one person each and every day! Read, share, and BE good news! Go in peace, serve the Lord! (Thanks be to God!)

Let Us Boast!

LENT--DAY 8

SCRIPTURE

Philippians 3:2-12 (NRSV)
Paul affirms the Abrahamic tradition

Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh! For it is we who are the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh -- even though I, too, have reason for confidence in the flesh.

If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.


DEVOTION

Today Paul reminds us of the importance of walking in humility! This notion is rather countercultural, isn’t it?

In most of our society’s we are taught to toot our own horns. We tell people about the prestigious college we attended. We boast about our corner office and six figure salary. We pull out the pictures of the summer cabin. We drive around the block three times so that our neighbors can see our new car.

How silly we can be and how quick to boast!

But, today we are reminded that if we want to brag on anyone, it ought to be Jesus! If we want to boast about anything, it ought to be God’s power to resurrect the dead!

As Christians we have a lot to brag about. Our God created and sustains the universe and everything in it. Our God loves everyone so much that God gave Jesus to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life. Our God is so awesome that Jesus did not stay dead, but was resurrected on the third day, just as he promised! Our God is so compassionate that the Holy Spirit was sent into the world to be a comforter and teacher. And our God is so phenomenal that Jesus will come again to establish a new heaven and a new earth!

I don’t know about you, but I don’t have anything going on in my life more praiseworthy than all that!

So today, when I open my mouth to boast, it will be in CHRIST JESUS MY LORD!


Let us pray:

Holy God, you are so awesome! You are so praiseworthy! You are so holy! Today, I will brag on you. Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I will be equipped and empowered to share your love with others. I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.


INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaL


ANNOUNCEMENT

During the Lenten Season, all Good News readers are challenged to forward this blog to one person each and every day! Read, share, and BE good news! Go in peace, serve the Lord! (Thanks be to God!)