Vital signs-Thursday, July 16th, 2020

Scripture teaches us not only to have godly friends but also to have wise friends. Such friends can challenge us to be better people. We need to be friends with people we can admire, people who will cause us to grow. We want to make sure that we have relationships in our lives that are mentoring relationships, relationships of accountability.

In other words, we not only need to have friends in our lives who encourage us, tell us that we are doing great, and cheer us on. Such friends are necessary. However, we also want to have friends who will tell us the hard truth. Scripture says that such friends sharpen us as iron sharpens iron. When people tell you the truth, they propel you forward, push your limits, and cause you to grow.

It is very important to have friendships with people who are smarter than you, stronger than you, and better than you. Such people can become your mentors. All your friends should not be at the same level. You need to have friends who are a level higher than you; people who have walked the Christian walk longer than you. These are the people that will pull you from where you are to a new place.

Spiritual mentors are people who will teach you how to fulfill the responsibilities of your Christian life. They will also provide you with accountability and correct you, as a humble correction is also one of the Christian responsibilities. The Bible teaches us that before correcting others, we must examine our lives first. The Scripture says that we need to take the beam out of our own eyes before we reach out to help a friend to take a speck out of their eyes. This analogy means that godly mentors need to live godly lives first.

Godly mentors are people who are honest with themselves. They will run after God first. They are also people who will love you enough to correct you and lift you up. Such people will help you run after God harder. Godly mentors fulfill this biblical promise in your life: those who walk with the wise will become wise.

“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬