To Timothy, my True Son in Faith...

1 Timothy 1:2
To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I think it’s probably safe to say I am one of the youngest writers on the TJ devotional team. I’m actually only in high school! Because of my age, however, I find this passage of Scripture close to my heart.

Paul is writing a letter to a young man named Timothy. Paul is Timothy’s mentor. This means Paul is guiding Timothy in Timothy’s spiritual journey. Not only was this mentorship beneficial to Timothy, but it was beneficial to Paul, as well.

I have many mentors in my life. My teachers, my friends who are older than me, and my family members are my mentors, just to name a few. These people give me hints and tips, they help me make sense out of things that happen in my life, and they guide me and encourage me in my journey with Christ. Not only can I learn from my own mistakes, but I can learn from my mentors’ mistakes, too. In these mentoring relationships, I’m like Timothy.

However, there are times when I am like Paul. Even though I am still young and still being mentored, I have already begun to mentor others. I learn just as much, if not more, by mentoring others and not just being mentored. When you are a mentor, you have to constantly refresh your memory. You must remember all the basics, and you must have a firm understanding of the things you are teaching. This forces you to pay much more attention than you would if you did not mentor.

Iron sharpens iron. If you are in a mentoring relationship, you may think you’re the one doing the teaching. However, you may very well be doing a lot of learning! And if you aren’t mentoring, maybe God wants you to find someone to mentor. Even if you don’t believe so, there is so much you can teach someone, and so much that same person can teach you. Just look at Paul. He was in prison, yet he was still mentoring. Ask God how He can use you to teach others, hone your theologies, grow closer to Him, and watch His power transform in both directions.

Prayer: Lord, I pray You would show us the benefits and amazing things that result from mentorships. I pray You would guide us as we seek to do Your will, and I pray You would give us understanding as we try to help others gain understanding, as well.

Additional Scripture: Job 8:8-10

Madelyn Leembruggen


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