Spiritual Mentors

Tuesday, February 15th, 2011

Today's Passage: Joshua chapter 1 (E-100 Reading)
Memory Verse(s): Joshua 1:2-4 

The most impactful message on the passing of Moses and the beginning of Joshua's ministry was ministered by our very own Bishop Ray Willis.  One of the key things he pointed out about this passage was that God told Joshua several times to be courageous because it would take far more faith, courage and obedience to go INTO the promised land than it took to come out of bondage.  Something else he said about this event was that God was transitioning the people of Israel from one man getting all the blame (or praise) for the miracles, to pointing them all to God.

The whole idea of raising up a successor through mentoring or spiritual fatherhood is common in the Word.  Among these are Elijah and Elisha in the Old Testament, and Paul and Timothy in the New.  In those examples, as it was with Moses and Joshua, the younger men had an opportunity to shadow their mentors, watching them operate in ministry.  This closeness also automatically put them in a position to learn from their mistakes, as we saw with the two in today's passage.  But most importantly of all, they saw firsthand the devotion and faithfulness these older men had for God, which was as unwavering as God's calling on their lives.

It's this same loving mentorship and passing of the mantle that we witnessed with our 
own eyes at ALM over the last few years.  Bishop instilled in his son, Pastor Chad,
 the same passion for truth, integrity and devotion that God placed within him.  Then, as he and Pastors Peggy, Chad and Antoinette raised up others in the ministry to carry on this legacy of faithfulness and integrity, God moved Bishop Ray and Lady Peggy onward to raise up others on a much larger scale within the conference.

As i always say, God is a God of order.  He requires us to be faithful over a few so that we can be made ruler over many.  The lessons we have learned from this great man and his wife are too numerous to count.  But some include the fact that greatness doesn't come without a price; personal destiny can never come before corporate destiny; and finally, the joy of serving the God Who gave us the only value in our lives should never be overshadowed by the rigors of ministry.  These and other words have shaped our lives and propelled us into the destiny God has for us.  We honor men and women like the spiritual parents God placed in our lives, and may eternity ring with the impact they will leave on this earth.

Prayer: Father, thank You for raising up godly leaders who are willing to in turn raise the standard for generations to come.  In these evil last days, we have seen Your glory manifested through Your modern-day servants and handmaidens.  And because they were willing to teach us, we, too are willing to give our lives to raising up others for Your glory.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.