On Behalf of Those We Teach
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. Romans 12:3 (NKJV)
We are impatient. When someone comes to faith in Christ, we expect Christian understanding to immediately affect her patterns of living. It usually does but not as completely as we would all like to see it.
The problem with this is that the more mature Christian, rather than stepping up to mentor or teach the new Christian, wants to tell her what to do. The difference is that when a person learns from the study or preaching of God’s Word, rather than a “you can’t do that,” it sticks.
A person who is convicted of sin because she understands scripture is far more likely to stay with the corrected behavior than the one who is repeatedly told of her sin without the benefit of biblical understanding.
Everyone needs a teacher. God, through His Holy Spirit, can do this work in us without any other human interaction, but what a gift for that new Christian who has a person to help her navigate the scriptures as she learns.
Romans 12:3 (at top) tells us that not everyone has the same measure of faith. The process of sanctification (spiritual growth) is different for all. Many factors come into play from upbringing and life circumstances to the theology of the local church.
We can be prideful in our expectations of others by assuming that they will grow as we think they should rather than in the way God ordered for them. This verse tells me that He is a personal God. Each one is given what He determines, not what we determine.
Will we be patient with our brothers and sisters in the Lord as we offer them the rich spiritual food in the Word of God? Will we acknowledge their efforts even if we aren’t seeing the progress we think should be there? We can admonish regarding sin without humiliating the sinner.
The scripture tells us what to look for in a new believer:
- One who believes in God who sent Christ (John 6:29).
- One who shows love for Christ by wanting to keep His commandments (John 14:15).
- One who shows signs of change (2 Corinthians 5:17)
If we see the fruit, or just the bud of these three, we can be patient with how the Lord will grow her faith from there.
Let’s teach new (or immature) believers one more truth early on. It’s from 1 John 5:3, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.”
Do we believe, and will we teach the faithful child of God, that she must keep His commandments and she will see that they are not burdensome. The world will tell her differently.
Are we making sure she will hear the truth by “being there” when she has questions?
I pray our words and actions will be a blessed teaching to all we encounter.
I agree with your prayer, Melissa.
Amen, Beth! With new converts, it’s not about correcting as much as it is about teaching and mentoring and discipling. So the new believer gains an understanding and matures in their faith. That’s one reason I’ve decided I love the Titus 2 woman needs as much attention as the Proverbs 31 woman. Because the Titus 2 woman is encouraged in the godly Christian life while teaching the younger women (age and spiritual birthdays) the way of godliness.
Thanks Karen, We are kindred spirits on this one (and many more, I’ve noticed)! This is a shameless plug but you would like my book, “Intentional Influence.”
I pray the Lord will use you in the lives of many of His daughters!
This is so true. We sometimes forget that it is a process. Thanks for the reminder.
This is personally helpful in four ways. All of us teach, but as a mother, writer, teacher, and “sponsor/ mentor through addiction,, Father uses me to teach many. Thank you for the reminder of who’s really doing the teaching and that we need to plug into the source in order to be of use to others. Powerful; thank you!
Teachers and mentors are so important to our Christian walk. Thanks for sharing this important message.
S.A. – “A process” is a good way to think of our sanctification. I am so glad that the Lord chooses NOT to show us all of our sin at once!
So glad it was helpful, Candice, I pray your teaching spheres will all be blessed pf the Lord!
Thanks Claudio, Mentoring is a passion of mine. The next generation is precious to the Lord and I am praying we will teach them in the fear and instruction of who He is. I appreciate your comment.
Teaching with compassion and by setting a good example is always my favorite method. We are all at different levels in life, whether that’s spiritual, emotional, academic or other growth. I love what you said about “being there” when she has questions. That is so key!
Thanks Jessica!
I’m leading a Bible study in Exodus. What I’m picking up from the beginning is that Moses seems to expect God to do what He says will happen RIGHT NOW.
God says Pharoah will let them go–but He doesn’t say it’s going to happen tomorrow.
Wanting it all now is a big problem for us.
Oh Nancy, Isn’t it true that there is nothing new under the sun? Man is as man has always been!
And, we can even treat marginal believers this way too. We all learn at different rates so we must be patient. All of life requires us to be patient as we wait on God. Thanks for the post Beth.
You’re right, Yvonne, Patience is good for both, waiting on God and waiting for growth in others.