Monday January 18th, 2021
Memorize: Mark 4:34 Coping Words (CW)
« In fact, in His public ministry, Jesus never taught without using parables; but afterward, when He was alone with his disciples, He explained everything plainly to them. »
Read: Matthew 13:10-30 GOD’S WORD Translation (GWT)
10 The disciples asked him,
“Why do you use stories as illustrations when you speak to people?”
11 Jesus answered,
“Knowledge about the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you. But it has not been given to the crowd.
12 Those who understand these mysteries will be given more knowledge,
and they will excel in understanding them.
However, some people don’t understand these mysteries.
Even what they understand will be taken away from them.
13 This is why I speak to them this way.
They see, but they’re blind.
They hear, but they don’t listen.
They don’t even try to understand.
14 So they make Isaiah’s prophecy come true: ‘You will hear clearly but never understand. You will see clearly but never comprehend.
15 These people have become close-minded and hard of hearing. They have shut their eyes so that their eyes never see.
Their ears never hear. Their minds never understand.
And they never return to me for healing!’
16 “Blessed are your eyes because they see and your ears because they hear.
17 I can guarantee this truth:
Many prophets and many of God’s people longed to see what you see but didn’t see it, to hear what you hear but didn’t hear it.”
18 “Listen to what the story about the farmer means.
19 Someone hears the word about the kingdom but doesn’t understand it.
The evil one comes at once and snatches away what was planted in him.
This is what the seed planted along the road illustrates.
20 The seed planted on rocky ground is the person who hears the word and accepts it at once with joy.
21 Since he doesn’t have any root, he lasts only a little while.
When suffering or persecution comes along because of the word, he immediately falls from faith.
22 The seed planted among thorn bushes is another person who hears the word.
But the worries of life and the deceitful pleasures of riches choke the word so that it can’t produce anything.
23 But the seed planted on good ground is the person who hears and understands the word.
This type produces crops. They produce one hundred, sixty, or thirty times as much as was planted.”
24 Jesus used another illustration. He said,
“The kingdom of heaven is like a man who planted good seed in his field.
25 But while people were asleep, his enemy planted weeds in the wheat field and went away.
26 When the wheat came up and formed kernels, weeds appeared.
27 “The owner’s workers came to him and asked,
‘Sir, didn’t you plant good seed in your field? Where did the weeds come from?’
28 “He told them, ‘An enemy did this.’
“His workers asked him, ‘Do you want us to pull out the weeds?’
29 “He replied, ‘No. If you pull out the weeds, you may pull out the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest.
When the grain is cut, I will tell the workers to gather the weeds first and tie them in bundles to be burned.
But I’ll have them bring the wheat into my barn.’ ”
Message:
Discipleship covers both coaching and mentorship.
It describes the relationship that exists between a mentor and his mentee, and also that of a coach and the one being coached.
Mentoring and coaching present rare privileges and should be handled carefully as the future of many are influenced thereby.
1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV says Christ must be the model for all Christian coaches and mentors.
« “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ…” »
What you say or do will have great impact on and can even shape the character of those within your sphere of influence.
My strong adherence to holiness today is as a result of the teachings and lifestyle of my Father-in-the Lord Pa Josiah Akindayomi.
If you would disciple anyone, you must first ensure your values are godly, clear and well set.
As a father, you are both a mentor and coach to your wife and children. What you do would impact their character greatly. This also includes your subordinates in the office.
Jesus is the ultimate teacher; one thing you would notice about Him is that He never hid the truth from His disciples.
« …And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples… »
Mark 4:34 NKJV
You must be honest in the assessment of your followers; tell them where they have gone wrong and praise them when they get things right.
You owe them the truth always.
Jesus never hid anything from His disciples; they knew when He was fasting and when He was praying.
He constantly pushed them to become like Him and even greater (John 14:12). In Matthew 17:16-17,
« “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you?” »
He was saying, in essence: Get up and start doing these things yourself.
If you have a follower that has remained on the same level since he/she met you, you are failing as a coach and mentor.
May you never fail God in the mighty name of Jesus.
Reflection: What kind of example are you to those in your sphere of influence? Are you deliberate about their growth?
Author: Pst E. A. Adeboye.
Text edited by Naomie
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