Regrouping

Some years ago I became involved in encouraging a fine young man whose church did not preach the Gospel. He demonstrated some potential and so I worked with him to bring him to faith in Christ. He went on well with the Lord but soon after our paths diverged and I did not see him for some years.

It was a delightful surprise to encounter him again and get caught up on his activities over the past while. It seems that soon after we parted ways he sensed the Lord calling him to ministry. He went to university and to seminary and went into the work of serving the people of God. When I met him he was the pastor of a large and thriving congregation. How happy I was to witness the work of grace that had been performed in his life. We had a happy time recalling how I had been involved with him years earlier and the influence I had on his life and career.

It is interesting the impact we can have on others even though it may only be a brief time we are around them. The young man I referred to above did not have more than 6 months under my influence but it obviously was used of the Lord to change him for life.

Men and women are challenged in Scripture to look out for others whom they can influence for good. For example Paul said to Timothy, “The things which you have heard from me…entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” And Titus he instructed to teach the older women to “train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands”.

It is so important that we duplicate ourselves in the lives of others. Women are more comfortable doing this and seem to recognize it as an important part of their role in the body of Christ. But I particularly challenge my male readers to consider whom they are actively seeking to influence. Our young men are in desperate need of male role models who will be confidential sounding boards and repositories of wisdom.

Perhaps you have not done this before and need to become active in being a role model for a younger person.

1 Thessalonians 5:11a
Therefore encourage one another
and build each other up.

Gordon Rumford Ministries

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