In our last lesson I shared the eight marks of an authentic Christian. Today I feel the Holy Spirit has led me to introduce my inner soul to you, believing that the more mentee understand their mentor, the greater the relationship between teacher and student.
As you well know I have said to you many times that my pledge to you is set forth in 1 Thess. 2:8, “I love you so deeply I am delighted not only to give you the gospel but my life as well.” And this week I began to look at this text in its context and discovered that the other verses in the context set forth, not one, but five traits which I am seeking by His grace to emulate: So here goes opening up to you my “Inner Soul.”
- I am endeavoring to be as “Gentle as a Nursing Mother.” Paul wrote of himself, “But we proved to be gentle (kind) among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children” (1 Thess. 2:7). In my zeal to encourage you to discipline your mind, spirit, and body, I may appear outwardly rather harsh at times, but my heart’s desire is to be kind, very kind, understanding, never hurting anyone and above all, those who are hurting badly.
- I am Drawn Toward Each Mentee with A Fond Affection. Paul wrote, “Having a fond affection for you…” (2 Thess. 2:8a). Paul had at his finger tips a half dozen Greek terms of affection he could have used to describe his feeling toward the Thessalonians, but he picked one which is found nowhere else in the New Testament. The word is “omeiromenoi” which means “to be drawn inwardly with profound care for others.” When I was born again at age 9, I experienced agape love (1 John 4:6-7), but when God called me to mentor he imparted to me “omeiromenoi” which is a moving supernatural force in my soul so powerful that I am as available as humanly possible to every mentee and can never say “no” when it comes to serving you.
- I am Working Hard to Serve You. Paul wrote “…recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel” (1 Thess. 2:9). I was brought up to work hard on a tobacco farm from sun to sun; I turned on the lights in the largest library in the South for five years; I worked 80 hours plus in pastoring an 8000 member church for almost 20 years. But I am working as hard today as ever, and enjoying every minute of it. “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” (Neh. 8:10) and you are “my joy and hope also” (1 Thess. 2:19).
- I am Sharing My Life Freely. Paul wrote, “…we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel but also our own lives” (1 Thess. 2:8). Isn’t the gospel enough? Absolutely not. It must be seen visibly, repeatedly, and convincingly. As Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse, great expositor of another day, said “The world will never read the gospel in leather or morocco, but they cannot help seeing it in shoe leather. Illus: Some time ago I ate at a local restaurant, paid my bill, and noticed that the cashier had given me too much change, so I turned back and said to the cashier, “I think you cheated yourself and I want to make it right.” The waitress replied, “I know I did, and I know you.” I asked, “How do you know me?” She replied, “I heard you preach last Sunday, and I was checking to see if you lived what you preach.” God forbid that I glory, except in the cross (Gal. 6:14), but I am compelled to say that my first priority is to live what I preach before I ever recommend it to others.
- I am Endeavoring to Behave The Gospel I Proclaim. Paul wrote, “You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and urprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers” (2 Thess. 2:9). Pay close attention to Paul’s word “we proclaimed,” followed by “we behaved.” Anecdote: My oldest son bears my name, “William Leffis Bennett,” and on one occasion we were visiting in a home and the lady of the house said to us, “You both have the same name and both are doctors, what is the difference in you?” I could not resist answering jokingly, “I preach and he practices.” Indeed, he does and he would not be a medical doctor at all if he did not practice, and I am not a pastor worth hearing if I do not “behave” what I preach. One pastor said “The problem with my people is that they believe the gospel but do not behave it.” Often asked, “What is the most difficult thing in being a preacher,” and I always answer, “Living out the gospel I preach.” And it’s easy for me to tell you to internalize the Word, to have a meaningful time with the Lord daily, but it is hypocrisy on steroids if I do not practice those disciplines in my own life and not to be a hypocrite. I well know that I am a “shabby piece of humanity” at times, but not so shabby as to be a hypocrite.
Lest after reading the above personal affirmations, some may wonder if I consider myself a “Super Man” or I am an “Incurable Egomaniac.” No, just the opposite – I consider myself to be a very weak person as did Paul, who testified “My strength is made perfect in weakness…for when I am weak I am strong.” (2 Tim. 12:9-10). My life verse describes how I feel about myself:
- “I am what I am by the grace of God” – this is my SALVATION
- “His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet NOT I BUT THE GRACE OF GOD that was with me.” (1 Cor. 15:10). – this is my SANCTIFICATION.
- I am still imperfect, but growing in grace as I anticipate my perfection at His coming – this is my GLORIFICATION
HALLELUJAH WHAT A SAVIOR! And what a privilege to serve Him by serving you UNTILL HE COMES or calls me Home to be with Jesus and with Dorothea who awaits my arrival!!!