Dr. D's Devotional
Title: Discipleship 20
by Dennis Reschke
"Well, I see that I should be a mentor but I've messed
up too badly in the past. God can't use me in that capacity". Can these
burned stones live (Neh 4:2)? God places discouraged fathers and mothers
back on His wall of service as it pleases HIM, not you. Ask God if He wants
you to be a mentor. If yes, then who are you to say no? 1Cor 12:18 says,
"But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath
pleased him." It's not about us, its about Him. We can't mentor anyone on
our own, and God is not asking us to do this. He's asking us to be obedient
while He supplies the wherewithal. Don't be led by what others say about
you, or what you say about you, but what God told you. 2Cor. 10:18 "For
(it is) not he that commends himself (that is) is approved, but whom the
Lord commends (that is approved)". "Yeah but I've made too many mistakes,
how do you expect to help someone else?" Believe God and not the lies of
the enemy. We've all been burned, we've all dropped the ball one time or
other. You look at any significant figure in the Bible and you'll see a
history of failure. "Mercy triumphs over judgment" (Jm 2:13). Mercy is a
superior force to judgment. Mercy brings God on the scene, judgment brings
the law and satan on the scene. Don't flatter yourself by looking at yourself,
you're not that important or impressive (and neither am I). The Father will
restore us.
So how are we restored? First, we must believe that God has commissioned
us. If not, we operate in the flesh, and flesh profits nothing (John 6:63).
Ask God. He speaks through His Word mostly. Set yourself in a position to
receive revelation by meditating in the Word. He speaks through others (perhaps
me right now). Pay attention to what others say. Ask God for two or three
sources (2Cor 13:1). Two, stake your claim. When the word is sown in our
hearts, satan comes immediately to take it away (Mk 4:15). Cares of the
world, deceitful riches, longing of worldly things choke the word (Mk 4:19).
Guard against these temptations by praying much. When temptation to quit
or not start comes, and it will, pray (Matt 26:41). Say with your mouth
to yourself and to others what God has spoken to you in regards to mentoring.
When we speak it, it becomes cemented in our hearts (Philem. 6). Three,
receive prayer from a trusted friend or your pastor. There is a supernatural
covering available to us as we incorporate the Body into our individual
ministries (story of incest in 1Cor 5 describes supernaturally covering
being removed). Four, be patient. Patience is a force that maintains faith
in its place (Heb 6:12). It is part and parcel of the Spirit of God within
in us. Love endures or is patient in all things (1Cor 13:7). Keep your mind
off of yourself. Five, keep your branches growing over the wall. Continue
to seek and love God with all your heart, for this is the first and greatest
commandment. God asked Abraham to sacrifice his ministry (Isaac) before
God. Even the things God tells us to do do not take precedent over seeking
Him first and foremost. And lastly, you WILL be stronger. Ps. 27:14 "Wait
on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart: wait,
I say, on the LORD."
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