Mentoring Matters

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” 2 Timothy 3:1-4

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These are the days we are living in right now. We can see that the world around us looks exactly like the description Paul gives in this passage to Timothy. However, when the church begins to resemble the same passage, we must ask, What are we missing?

There is a military term that is used when a soldier does not report for duty, called AWOL (Absent With Out Leave). Many people have experienced the effects of AWOL parents, and in the workplace, a co-worker may be AWOL for a shift, which causes hardships on the rest of the staff. But what about the Church going AWOL in their responsibility to grow in grace and knowledge? Then we find a church “having a form of godliness but denying its power” vs 5, and looking just like the world as described in 2 Timothy 3.

It’s time for the church to wake up and surrender to the Authority, Jesus Christ, and take responsibility for the Christian walk we are called to.

Photo by Jon Ratzlaff

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” Ephesians 2:10

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To truly understand our beginning and purpose in life, we must return to the CREATOR of all life: GOD. He is the source of our genealogy. He wrote a single volume, called the Bible, that covers every issue, every trial, and every circumstance with the perfect solution and guidance for every man, woman, boy, and girl.

We have the privilege of passing on the value of our existence to the next generation. We have the greatest resource, the Word of God, that will transform lives and will prepare all of us with lasting character that builds us up.

We were not only created WITH a purpose, but we were created ON purpose by our Creator. No matter what our family tree looks like here, with our identity in Christ, we have a solid foundation for all of eternity.

“The sheep hear His voice; and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out.” John 10:3

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When we hear the Shepherd’s Voice, it brings assurance and security as He speaks. There are times in our walk with the Lord when certain unknowns produce uncertain emotions that confuse our hearing.

Fear will slip in and replace the sheep’s ability to listen to the Shepherd. Fear has many entanglements, and we get caught up in them, never realizing fear has replaced faith.

Today, there is a way to keep this from happening. Let’s prepare to repair the damage fear does when it controls our hearts.

“The Lord knows the days of the upright, and their inheritance shall be forever” Psalm 37:18

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As we conclude our study on the names of God found in Psalm 23, we find David has full assurance of his continued union with his great Shepherd for all of eternity.

Today, we are focused on the character of God found in verse 6, where David declares, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” Psalm 23:6.

We can rest in that as well as Paul expresses in Romans 8:38-39, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Jesus is our inheritance – Jehovah Cheleq

O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot” Psalm 16:5

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As we continue our study on the names of God found in Psalm 23, we find that David was confident that his Shepherd was all he needed. There was nothing that he lacked in his life. While alone in the shepherd’s field, David was never without; everything he needed was supplied by the Great Shepherd until his “cup runneth over.”

Today, we are focused on the character of God found in verse 5c, where David declares, “My cup runneth over,” expressing that the Lord is Jehovah Manah, God his portion. Oh, how we can trust the Lord to be our portion and fill our cup to overflowing!

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over” Psalm 23:5

“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18.

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This command to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord is impossible without knowing Him. Having a relationship with Him is the first step to growth. As we grow closer to Him in our relationship, we grow in knowledge of who He is and gain wisdom of His character that is saturated in grace.

In our continuing study of the names of God found in Psalm 23, we find that David stayed close to his Shepherd, visiting with Him in the field, worshiping Him with instruments and song, and drawing closer and closer every day. God Himself declared that David was a man after God’s own heart.

Today, we are focused on the character of God found in verse 5b, where David tenderly shares, “Thou anointest my head with oil,” acknowledging God as his sanctification, and the Lord is our sanctification as well.

Photograph by Jon Ratzlaff

“I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies” Psalm 18:1-3

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As we continue our study on the names of God found in Psalm 23, we find that David gained great confidence that his Shepherd would go before him in every situation. We have verbal testimony from David himself saying that the Lord delivered him from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear. David knew that nothing was impossible for His Mighty God!

Today, we are focused on the character of God found in verse 5a, where David boasts in the Lord, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” The Lord was his victory, and He is our victory as well.

Photo by Jon Ratzlaff

“Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name” Psalm 33:20-21

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Many scriptures describe God as our help, and His help is described in multiple ways. Psalm 46:1 says, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Psalm 121 says, My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved, will not let you slumber. The Lord is your keeper, your shade. The Lord will preserve your soul forevermore.

As we continue our study on the names of God found in Psalm 23, we find how David describes the Lord as our help with His rod and staff that comfort him.

Today, we are focused on the character of God in verse 4b to see how the rod and staff of the Lord God are still comforting us with encouragement and discipline, as God, Our Help.

Painting by Bob Boyd (Prints of Peace)

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28

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In each of the six verses in Psalm 23, David describes God’s character, which directly correlates with the names of God. As a shepherd himself, David understands the depth of love and care that is required to tend to the sheep. David then takes those insights in beautiful expression to describe how the Great Shepherd, God Almighty, tends to him as a sheep.

Today, we are focused on the character of God in verse 4a to find a close, secure relationship that cannot be broken with God, Our Companion.

Painting by Bob Boyd (Prints of Peace)

“He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:3

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Each verse of Psalm 23 gives names of God that describe His character traits. We can imagine David, a shepherd, knowing the depth of love and care that is required to tend to sheep.

David takes his insights and expresses them beautifully about the Great Shepherd, God Almighty, tending to David as a sheep.

Today, we are focused on the character of God in verses 3b and digging into supporting scriptures that affirm God our Righteousness (Jehovah Tsidkenu)