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DAy 1 Challenge – Seek mentorship

1. Read the Excerpt 
   Let this content inspire you in your role in the unity of the Kingdom.
2. Find Your Mentor(s)
   Who would you allow to speak their wisdom and encouragement into your life?
3. Find Your Mentee(s)
   Who in your circle could use your wisdom and encouragement in their life?

SPIRITUAL FATHERS, MOTHERS, AND GRANDPARENTS

written by Thai Lam

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
—Psalm 145:3–7 ESV

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
–Hebrews 13:7–8 ESV

As a father of three teenagers, I am constantly challenged by how my kids have a front-row seat as I talk about following Jesus and then endeavor to walk out my Christian faith daily. For better or worse, my kids witness the good examples, the bad habits, the godly moments, the leadership shortfalls, and the humbling apologies. But all in all, my hope is that as they hear my words and watch my life over the years and decades, they would see the goodness of God in a broken-but-redeemed man, who is clinging to Jesus and growing in a Godward life.

The same realities exist in the life of the church. Young disciples are watching the generations before them—how they love and trust God, how they treat strangers and family, what’s most important in their lives, and so much more. These older and more seasoned saints have the opportunity to become spiritual mothers and fathers to the next generation if they would turn their hearts and open their lives to young people in their midst and testify of God’s character,His ways, and His works as they have witnessed. Then, the next generation would have the chance to consider the outcome of the older generation’s way of life and potentially imitate their faith.

For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me.
–1 Corinthians 4:15–16 ESV

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
–2 Timothy 2:1–2 ESV

Today, young disciples have access to countless Christian podcasts, YouTube sermons and Sunday morning teachings that can be helpful tutors for their faith. But that is not the same as journeying with and being discipled by spiritual fathers and mothers in the faith.

Paul tells us that though we as believers can have many impactful teachers, we do not and cannot have many spiritual mothers and fathers. In a local church context, pastors may have many congregants that attend weekly, but they can only have a limited number of leaders that they are mentoring and investing in deeply.

Jesus taught crowds, ministered to individuals, and discipled twelve. If the Son of God had many followers but only twelve disciples, what does that say to us today? As much as we may desire to have greater Kingdom impact by reaching bigger crowds and more people, Jesus’ leadership was different—He spent the minority of His time with the many and the majority of His time investing in a few. We, too, need to prioritize being spiritual fathers and mothers who are sowing into a few hungry, young disciples who in turn are maturing and growing into disciple makers. The next generation needs accessible and engaged spiritual fathers and mothers!

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.
–Malachi 4:5–6 ESV

And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.
—Luke 1:16-17 ESV

In the last two verses of the Old Testament, the prophet Malachi prophesies about John the Baptist’s forerunner ministry and warns us of the potential of judgment if the hearts of the older generation are not turned to the younger generation and the hearts of the young are not turned to the old. Additionally, the Gospel of Luke further highlights that John the Baptist would be used by the Lord to turn the hearts of fathers and mothers to sons and daughters as well as the “disobedient to the wisdom of the just” so that their generation would be prepared for the Lord’s coming.

Today, there are more than 250 million college students on over 30,000 college campuses worldwide. What if pastors and churches globally were to turn their hearts in prayer towards thousands of students on college campuses down the street from their congregations? What if spiritual fathers and mothers were to turn their hearts and intercede for revival amongst sons and daughters in their communities, for the disobedient to turn to the wisdom of the just? And what if the older generation united in prayer with the younger generation for revival and spiritual awakening in their campuses, cities, and nation? What could God do and how might He respond? Let’s find out!

— Pray for God to raise up spiritual mothers, fathers, grandparents, and pastors who would open and turn their hearts in prayer and discipleship towards the next generation.

— Pray for God to lead hungry young disciples to seasoned mothers and fathers who could mentor and invest in them.

— Pray for pastors and churches to gain God’s heart and eyes for the thousands of college students who need Jesus on campuses down the street from their congregations.

Click HERE for an audio prayer made to accompany this content.