September 8 – Are you a bad or good mentee?

“Thus says the LORD: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.”” – Isaiah 66:1-2 

Scripture reading: 2 Chronicles 24:1-3; 15-22

Times of transition in life are the times when the man or woman of God is most in need of a solid, biblical mentor. Consider King Joash. He ascended the throne of Judah when he was only seven years old. Under the priest Jehoiada’s tutelage, Joash reigned with wisdom and rebuilt the house of the LORD. Then Jehoiada died. King Joash surrounded himself with sycophants, “yes men” who pulled his heart away from the LORD.

It is a circumstance that is familiar in our world, too. Young men hitting high school might think their peers are better advisors than their parents. To their detriment they abandon the Christian wisdom of their parents. Young moms are overwhelmed, but instead of receiving the wise advice of older matrons in the faith, they resent such advisors.

As a minister there have been many times I’ve been privileged to sit at the bedside of an elderly Christian, who in the last labored hours of life still testified to the goodness of God. Today’s youth are often shielded from death, as if it is too scary, too graphic (though that notion should be dismissed by the violence of gaming and movies, those same youth are already imbibing!).From earliest days, to the end of life, our lives are poured out for the glory of God. As those who have been brought from death to life in Christ, we must be led in the paths of righteousness. Mentors raised up by God are all around you. Are you humble enough to receive instruction?Suggestions for prayerDo you tremble at the word of God? Do you have a humble spirit? Do you readily confess your sins and seek the forgiveness of God? Pray for the Spirit of God to give you holy discernment so that you will be ready, and humble enough to be teachable, when God provides you a mentor.

Rev. Richard T. Vander Vaart and his wife Carolyn are now in their seventh year living in Moncton, NB. with Redemption Prison Ministry as a pastor in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church of Canada. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com