This week I am in Tampa for our Annual Summer Conference. I will be working on recruiting school board members to be mentors for our newly elected members in November. Since our members are bound by the Sunshine Law and cannot talk to the board members in their district about issues they will be voting on, it is nice to have someone to bounce ideas off of.
Most of us can point to someone who has been a mentor in our lives. It may have been a parent, teacher, coach, pastor, friend, or colleague. Mentors help us see possibilities we might otherwise miss. They encourage us when we struggle, challenge us when we need to grow, and share wisdom gained through experience. A good mentor can change the course of a life.
But as valuable as human mentors are, none of them compare to our greatest Mentor, Jesus Christ. What makes Jesus such a remarkable mentor is that He didn't just tell people how to live; He showed them. He taught lessons on faith while calming storms. He taught compassion while touching lepers. He taught forgiveness while hanging on a cross. Every word He spoke was matched by the life He lived.
When His disciples were uncertain, He guided them. When they failed, He restored them. When they doubted, He patiently taught them. Even after they misunderstood Him time and again, He never gave up on them.
The beautiful thing is that Jesus still mentors us today. Through Scripture, He teaches us truth. Through prayer, He counsels. Through the Holy Spirit, He guides and convicts us. Through life's circumstances, He develops our character.
Unlike earthly mentors, Jesus is always available. He never grows tired of our questions. He never runs out of wisdom. He never gives poor advice. And He sees not only who we are today but who we can become through His grace.
Sometimes we search for answers in books, podcasts, experts, and endless opinions. While those resources can be helpful, we should never overlook the greatest mentor available to us. Before seeking guidance from the world, we should seek guidance from the One who created us. Jesus knows the path ahead. He knows the challenges we will face. He knows the decisions we need to make. And He promises to walk beside us every step of the way.
Shine, Shine, Shine!
Tina