Mentoring Matters

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

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In each verse of Psalm 23, we are given names of God that describe His character traits.

We can imagine David, a shepherd himself, knowing the depth of love and care that is required to tend to sheep.

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

Today, we are focused on the character of God in verses 3a and digging into supporting scriptures that affirm God as our Healer (Jehovah Ropheka).

“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters” Psalm 23:1-2

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Each verse of Psalm 23 gives the names of God that describe His character traits. We can imagine David, a shepherd himself, knowing the depth of love and care that is required to tend to sheep. He takes his insights and expresses them beautifully about the Great Shepherd, God Almighty, tending to David, a sheep himself.

Today, we are focused on the character of God in verses 1 and 2 and digging into supporting scriptures that affirm God as our Shepherd (Jehovah Rohi), Provider (Jehovah Jireh), and Peace (Jehovah Shalom).

“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” Hebrews 13:20-21

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The comparison of sheep tendencies and the tendencies of us, God’s Sheep, is revealed in how we interact with each other as we grow in grace and knowledge. The great Shepherd knows all the sheep grow at different levels and in different ways, so He deals with each as needed. Some are ready to be “show sheep” while others struggle to stay with the flock, but in every case, the Shepherd tenderly cares for each one where they are in their progress.

Among the sheep, we can be very harsh to each other based on our differing levels of growth. We must learn to look beyond actions and words to see the heart of each sheep. As a body of Christ, we have enough criticism from the world around us; we don’t need it from each other. We are to encourage one another and build one another up (1 Thess. 5:11) and consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near (Heb. 10:24-25)

“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want” Psalm 23:1

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David is the author of this particular Psalm and probably wrote it while tending the flock. As a shepherd himself, he understood the responsibility, hard work, insights, and abilities necessary to keep the sheep safe and healthy. Beyond the physical needs, David also understood the depth of care, attention to detail, and sacrifice it required on a personal level.

Being a shepherd, David could relate his love for the sheep to the way the Lord loved him. Placing himself as a sheep under the love and care of the Great Shepherd, this Psalm tells the many ways that the Lord tends to us, His children.

Today, we discuss the precious, tender way of the Shepherd.

“If indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the Truth is in Jesus.” Ephesians 4:21

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How we live is determined by what we believe. If Truth is in Jesus, then why do we have such corruption in our lives? Why do the daily struggles far outweigh the confident victories that are said to be ours?”

There is a saying, “There must be a cross before there can be a crown.” The cross we need to embrace includes giving up our plans for the greater plans of the Savior, bringing our opinions, priorities, and thoughts into alignment with the bigger picture, and knowing what that picture is.

The Bible has not left us overwhelmed as to how this is to be accomplished. There are really no excuses for believing a lie as truth when Jesus is our Truth. Study with us today as we see the provisions that we have in trading the old for the new.

“Believe in your heart that God has raised Him (Jesus) from the dead and you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

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Beliefs are vital to a person in establishing who they are, and this passage deals with the belief of WHO God is. We have blended our beliefs with the cultural and secular world, mixing percepts and concepts that will never work together.

It is like oil and water. Oil is lighter and floats to the top. Likewise, we enjoy the light, easy ways of blended thinking, rather than searching out what is truly necessary for godly living.

Today, we examine how to make right what is wrong in our thinking so that in everything we do, we may be pleasing in God’s sight. For the person still searching, find the foundation that offers a solid and fixed way of understanding.

“The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them

out.” Proverbs 20:5

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We know that out of the heart proceed all the issues of life, but how does that relate to a heart's purpose? Does the heart plan on good or evil? What influences the heart in revealing what the priority is on which the heart thinks?

In the physical world, a heart not working properly brings trouble to the whole body, and an out-of-balance heart also troubles our mind, will, and emotions.

Take time out today to consider matters of the heart.

“All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits.” Proverbs 16:2

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We think we have our lives under control from our perspective and need no other

help. A few bumps here and there, coping but never soaring, and often wanting to

hibernate to escape living with everyday life.

Whether it is in a relationship where we are being ignored, hassled, or if we are living with the results of our own poor choices, we find a way to survive. We keep everything on the surface but never dig down to the root of the problem.

Today, we acquaint ourselves with some less obvious defenses while hoping to find a place to land that brings peace. There is a solution!

"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,  as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5:20

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When you meet someone, there is usually an introduction of your name and then something about what you do. It takes a name to make what you do important. Telling someone what you do without a name is incomplete to our identity.

Likewise, part of our identity as members of God’s family is to be ambassadors, showing people what the family of God should look like in today’s world.

Many times, we are displaying a bad “identity” because we are attempting to make ourselves look good rather than reflecting our identity of being IN CHRIST.

Who we are reflects what we do. How important is this in our understanding of living?

“The spirit of a man will be his support and sustain him when he is ill, but a broken and crushed spirit, who can bear.” Proverbs 18:14

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How do you handle and react to frustration and troubling conflicts? Some explode. Some turn their backs and ignore the hurt and pain. Others carry it inside and have unusual defense mechanisms that are hard to recognize.

When we want to be strong in spirit, we must be pure in heart. Learning to observe

what sounds good may be a cover for a heart that is coping and not really caring.

Don’t get trapped in Defense Mechanisms that substitute reality in relationships.

We have been given The Great Escape. Let’s use it!!