Elect 203: Disciple
Making
Reflection
Paper
While I’m on this
road you take my hand
Somehow you really
love who I really am
I push you away,
still you won’t let go
You grow your
roses on my barren soul
Who am I, who am
I, who am I
To be loved by
you?
Who Am I by
NeedToBreathe
“Encouragement
is God’s native tongue” (Cordeiro, 10)
When I began reading the
book, The Devine Mentor, I was not sure what I was expecting but at first I
thought this book would help me navigate to find a good mentor. Then I found
myself feeling a bit dimwitted as this book is revealing to me that the best mentors,
I could look to are the people of the Bible. In the lyrics above, I thought
what an amazing discovery that in the pages of this majestic book are the
mentors that I have read about multiple times. I have connected with them and
in their lives, God answered the question of who am I to be loved by you. As
the words came to life as I read how God loved them so much, he died for them,
but his love continues in the story of my life and into the future of
generations to come.
The author makes a great
point when he talks about divine testimonies as being left as a legacy of life
skills. “Take those life-giving insights and secure them in your heart” (Cordeiro,
37) is advice I had not thought about. I have memorized scripture, but it is
not just to prove a point, but is a life skill of learning “mighty insights of
God’s eternal Word” (Cordeiro, 37). I am highly interested in how the lives of
the Bible can provide me counsel for my path. In the lesson, The Word Hand made
sense and it is also mentioned by the author, so I did learn that:
Hearing:
we need fresh insight into scriptures as we retain only 5% of what we hear.
Reading:
foundation of our daily time with God where we retain 15% of what we read.
Studying:
deep dive into scripture to increase knowledge that leads to the Holy Spirit
revealing nuggets of wisdom. It is here we retain 35% of what we study.
Memorizing:
becomes the “sword of the spirit” (Ephesians 6:17) so if we stay consistent
with reviewing scripture then we remember 100% of what we memorize.
Meditation:
this is the best way to engage fully with God’s word as we hear, read, study,
and memorize. This is the transforming power of the Holy Spirit at work as we
meditate.
Now to combine what I
learned in the lesson to what the author has outlined so that I take
accountability for my own spiritual health which led me to revisiting the lives
of my own divine mentors. Looking through my journals I wrote out the history,
lives, and outcomes of the lives of Jeremiah and Peter. In previous classes, I
had written extensively about them.
I am drawn to Jeremiah because he weeps for his nation. Why
was he so compelled to weep for people who rejected his warnings? Once I delved
into his heart I do too feel my heart weeping for our nation and the
indoctrination of our kids. Seeing the consequences of young people now trying
to find identity in de-transitioning. The regret and isolation is so intense. Jeremiah would be found weeping over the fate of his
beloved country as he knew it was coming with the judgment of God who was going
to allow Judah to be taken into exile by Babylon. His dedication to stay
aligned with God’s word as his spokesman for forty years is what drew me to
this prophet. His passion never strayed while speaking God’s message. He
was dismissed, ostracized, and isolated from his people by being thrown into
prison and then a cistern. His God-fearing love just exudes through his
message even though he agonized over his message that he had to deliver just
speaks to his dedication and how he worked through so much rejection from people.
Oh, Peter I sure have walked in
your shoes. I see my own downfall moments when I read Peter’s story. The downfall of Peter was when Jesus was arrested as the
words prophesied by Jesus comes true as “immediately the roster crowed the
second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before
the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times. And he broke down and
wept” (New Application Study Bible Mark 14:72). I would expect him to be shamed
by Jesus, but instead on the beach while fishing Jesus appears so Peter jumps
in the water to swim to him. Jesus once again singles Peter out when he asks
him three times “Simon son of John, do you love me?” (John 21:16) Peter answers
with a yes, each time. Peter’s life transformed knowing Jesus had forgiven him
and then commissioned him to feed Jesus’ sheep. Jesus changed this fisherman
into an evangelist. Peter’s identity changed from impulsively immature to a
bold powerful dynamic speaker during Jesus’ ascension through the Holy Spirit.
Peter finally understood the significance of Jesus’ words about his death and
resurrection.
In the lesson, being a disciple
is defined as having a lifestyle of generational spiritual transformation by “being
confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to
completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1: 6). The author also
points to the essential need for me to know my Bible and make sure I know how
to navigate through it. “The Bible calls itself your sword, and if you’re about
to go into battle you’d better know how your weapon: how it fits your hand, how
it feels when you swing it, and what outcome will result for anything wielded
against it” (Cordeiro, 78). God’s mentors wear multiple hats when I need
instruction, coaching, reminding, and reprimands. I know they are there to help
me store the wisdom of God’s word in my heart and to equip me as a disciple so
that I fulfill the great commission to go out and make disciples of all nations
as Jesus commanded. “And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
And surely, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).”
Bibliography
Cordeiro, Wayne. The
Divine Mentor. Bethany House Publishers, 2007.
Life
Application Study Bible: NIV. Zondervan,
2019.
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