Christ-like Mentorship

Focus: John 10:4-5 - KJV

4. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

Mark 10:32-34

The place of a mentor who is more like a Shepherd is to lead his followers from the front. Christ gave us this example while He walked the face of the earth. Not only does a mentor lead from the front, he is also constantly speaking and issuing instruction to the mentees so that they are clearly familiar with his voice, and when they hear the voice of a stranger, they are able to differentiate between the two. In essence, a mentee does not obey the voice of a strange teacher, but that of his mentor. Hence, any mentee who fails to recognize or heed the voice of the mentor is not likely to take benefit of the mentor and he is likely to float as a sheep without a shepherd. He is susceptible to being blown around with winds of doctrine not knowing where to draw the line. It is however, never the fault of the mentee if the mentor fails in his responsibility to lead from the front. That is why it is important to check well before succumbing to the mentorship of anyone.

Jesus Christ, being our example, was on His way to Jerusalem to be killed. He made abundantly clear to His mentees the thing that was about to happen to Him before leading them on to the city. And in taking them into the city, He went in the front since those who sought Him may have problem identifying Him and He would not have any of His mentees taken instead. That, of course, is the way of the good shepherd. He leads the way that the sheep must follow and guides them through it ensuring their safety from predators and showing them where the pastures are green, as well as where clean water flows. This example is what the Lord has given us as His body that we may be like Him.

Beloved, God is calling us all as believers into the role of leaders that we may bring up lambs for Him that would grow into sheep. However, He expects us to mentor everyone He decides to raise through us by being ahead of them in all things particularly in knowledge of the word, insight into spiritual matters and guidance by the help of the Holy Spirit unto how the mentees can navigate their ways in times of trouble, and away from the snares of the enemy. It is a responsibility the Lord has given us and is now asking of us how we have fared in. The decay in the world is not likely to ease unless there are well meaning mentors who will not stop instructing their mentees so that they do not listen to strangers, who are only bent on leading them astray. Today, a lot of charlatans are teaching people how to do away with the Church and many are yielding because they lack mentors leading them from the front.

SOLUTION: The role of the believer is to emulate and be like Jesus in all manner of things, including mentoring. When He instructed us to go into all the world and make disciples, He was asking us all to mentor others. It is never too late to start. Put together your cluster group of converts to teach them the way of the Lord from today.

Please pray:

My Father and my God, I thank you for saving me from the terror of sin and death. Thank you for the instruction to make disciples of all nations. Without you, Lord, I am unable to achieve this or anything at all. Please, from this day, grant me the courage to raise disciples unto you. Help me to be a good mentor to many and keep me in your word that I may not lack instruction for them at any time. Do also keep me in your blessings for this day and as my Shepherd, keep away the enemy from reaching me dear Lord, in Jesus’ name.

If you are blessed by this post, kindly share with your contacts, as well as others, that they may be blessed also. Thank you and may God bless you abundantly as you do so, in Jesus’ name