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Sons and Daughters from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.

I had a great Dad who always managed to have hope even in the darkest times. I remember once when I was little, the engine in his car began knocking, and he had no money for parts. So he jacked it up in the yard and pulled the oil pan off. Then he cut some leather strips from an old boot and used it as a spacer behind the worn-out main bearings. He was able to gently drive it to work until he could afford some new parts. With Dad, there was always hope, for God would make a way if we tried.

I would like to think some of that hope passed on to me over the years I spent working with him. Yet, looking back, many people have had a lasting impact on my life besides Dad. I am talking about good mentors who help shape your future. Many didn't even realize they were doing so, but I was watching and learning from them. The Apostle Paul spoke of Timothy as his own son, and he called himself a father to those at Corinth:

(1 Corinthians 4:15–17 NKJV)  For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me. For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

Even though the Apostle Paul had no biological children, he had many spiritual children that he raised. Paul mentored young Timothy and taught him the gospel, and he urged others to imitate him. That makes you think. If we examine ourselves, can we truly ask others to imitate us? Paul lived in such a way that he could, and so should we.

The main point of this message is: "You don't need offspring to be a Mother or Father." There are so many out there watching your life and how you react. You may influence my children and I may affect yours.

I have written about an elder at our church who I was helping fix the roof on his house one summer. We went to the hardware store, and a little boy who was with us picked up a pack of nails, and we left without paying for them. When we got back to the house, and the elder saw the nails in the little boy's hand, he totally freaked out and rushed that pack of nails back to the store.

I was just along for the ride, but it left a lasting impression on me that I remember vividly today, even after he has passed on. Here was a man who said what he meant and meant what he said. I could believe what he told me. That is priceless. Paul instructed Timothy like this:

(2 Timothy 4:2–5 NKJV)  Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Paul told Timothy to teach sound doctrine, for many will be turned aside to fables. Paul spoke of fables, myths, legends, the commandments of men. This is what Jesus taught:

(Mark 7:6–7 NKJV) ... ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy several times about maintaining the purity of his doctrine, the things he believed and taught others. Paul gave Timothy this warning:

(1 Timothy 4:1–6 NKJV)  Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.

If you want to be a spiritual father or mother, you must pay attention to what you teach others. You have to question your teachers, check behind them, and don't blindly repeat what you have heard someone say just because they were a "something." You may find it to be a fairy tale. The Apostle Paul met some Christians at Berea who the Scripture says had more character than those at Thessalonica:

(Acts 17:10–11 NKJV)  Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

The Bereans searched the Scriptures daily to find out if what Paul was teaching them was actually true. Then they could teach others with confidence and conviction.

Let us raise up the next generation of believers by teaching the word of God accurately. May our lives demonstrate our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ by our actions. We can all be mothers and fathers, for God will soon provide the children.

You can pray this with me if you like:

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You so much for the people that You have placed in my life to mentor me, and I pray that You anoint me to help others. Please open my understanding of Your word and help me rightly divide Your word of truth so I can instruct others. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!