August 31, 2021 -- II Corinthians 1:1-2 -- Who has the right to mentor you?

Children loved by the Father, in the power of the Spirit: sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
   To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
II Corinthians 1:1-2 ESV

Who has the right to comment into your life? If a perfect stranger says to you “Your hair, ugh!”. Will that ruin your day? Or would you be able to say to yourself, that person is a stranger, with a right to her opinion, but that opinion will not bring me down? What if it is your husband who says, “My dear, I think the hair stylist missed on that cut”? Would you be able to process this, saying to yourself, "I know my husband loves me enough to comment and is prepared to take a risk of expressing his opinion for my good. Would you listen to him, accepting his correction as spoken by one who loves you?

Consider the fact that the apostle Paul was always mentoring others. His high calling is to comment into the lives of others. Here he is writing to the people of the church at Corinth and by God’s appointment he has the right to comment into their lives, to correct, encourage, teach and cast vision. As he does so, he is mentoring Timothy in the calling of pastoral leadership. Timothy, as he is mentored in leadership in the household of God, is learning how to speak the truth in love, to endure reproach and push-back from the very people one is serving and in spite of negative feedback or withstanding flattery to remain faithful to God and faithful to one’s calling.

Who has the right to mentor you? Who has the right to comment on your faith in Jesus Christ as by the Spirit’s power you seek to be faithful to our God and Father? Do you live under the tyranny of many opinions, or has God, by the grace given you one or two strong leaders, faithful to God, who have the right to encourage you in your spiritual life? Who are you mentoring? Are you consistent? Are you seeking their good? Are you praying for this person so that he will experience spiritual growth into maturity?

Thank You, Faithful God, for those whom You have appointed to be spiritual mentors in our lives. Thank You, Spirit of Truth, for their leadership in taking the Word and showing us its vital importance, relevance, and through it ever-revealing to us the beauty of Christ our Redeemer-King. Father in heaven, in obedience to Jesus’ great commission, may we take to heart and put into practice the high calling of being mentors to others in our precious faith. Amen.

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