As a Mother and as a Father

 All Christians need spiritual mentors. We need to see the gospel lived out by others, and we need for them to give us the guidance and encouragement we need to become more like Jesus all of the time. We can't just surround ourselves with friends who will always agree with us. We need those who will be honest and care enough to tell us the truth even when it hurts. Also, we need to be that kind of friend to our Christian brothers and sisters.

When Paul wrote his first letter to the Christians in Thessalonica, he laid out how he had ministered to them. It gives us a great picture of what we need and what others need from us. (I Thessalonians 2:7,11) He was gentle with them as a nursing mother cherishes her own children, and he was exhorting, comforting, and charging all of them, as a father does his own children. We need both sides to grow into mature believers.

There is nothing like the love and gentleness of a mother with her children. When a child gets hurt, he usually doesn't run to his father first, but to his mother. He knows she will be tender with him and not be upset until all of the crying and pain are over. Spiritually, we will make mistakes, and we will fail. At that point we do not need harsh criticism. We need love and gentle correction to get us back on track.

However, we also need a father figure who will exhort us. That means we need a person who will teach us what to do and make sure we do it. Exhortation is holding others accountable for what they know, not just giving facts. Also, we need that manly comfort, which says, "You are alright, just get up and be strong and do the right thing." Finally, we need people to charge us to be faithful and to carry out all of the commands of the Lord. When we have both of these kinds of help we can grow spiritually mature in the right ways.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read I Thessalonians 3-5