Unsung Heroes: Zeal of Timothy — Tuesday
2 Timothy 1:6-7
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. (NIV)
I started out in full-time ministry here at Southland as a fresh-off-the-press college graduate. At barely 22 years old, I was simultaneously thrilled and terrified at the thought of what I was stepping into, but I knew it was what God wanted me to do. As a now seasoned 24-year-old (that’s a joke… I’m practically still an infant), I look back at that season with a posture of gratitude for the women who mentored and discipled me in those very early days. Some were in full-time vocational ministry and some were not, but all of them were (and are) women who have a deep and fierce desire to love and serve the Lord, their families, and their communities. A particular mentor invited me over to her house every Monday night for an entire year. She let me sit on her couch with a cup of hot tea and a blanket and offered me a safe space to process through things happening in my life. Every week, she would sit with me for hours while I talked and she listened. She challenged me, prayed for me, encouraged me, and offered wise counsel and a box of tissues when tears would flow. Her investment in me was not just limited to Monday nights; she checked in with me throughout the week and allowed me to see her as a follower of Jesus, a wife, and a mom in so many different forms.
Since then, those evenings have painted such a picture for me of the importance of discipleship. I really don’t know how I would have gotten through my first year of ministry—and, albeit, my first year out of college—without that consistency and intentionality. My prayer is that I will be able to provide that same level of discipleship and mentorship as my mentor did.
No matter what stage of life you’re in, mentorship and discipleship are such crucial parts of our walks with Jesus. We have so much to learn from those who have been following Jesus for more seasons of life than we have. Whether that’s through advice, prayer, or simply listening, we can learn more about what it means to follow Jesus and seek Him in all things.
Tuesday’s Reflection
Take a look at some people in your life who follow Jesus who you would want to be like in 10 years. Ask God to give you the courage to ask them to disciple you! If you’re not investing in someone at the moment, ask the Lord to show you a person you can pour into.