Kamal settled in my city. He was drawn in by love extended by Muslim background believers from his country. Soon he responded to an invitation to follow Jesus. He went to church with these believers but these guys were working when Kamal was free. I realized that he was not getting any teaching in areas he struggled with so took this as God's assignment until his spiritual needs were met elsewhere. He accepted me as his 'older brother'. I didn't want him to 'fall through the cracks'.
We've all heard the story of the drunkard father going off to the bar in a snowstorm. Unbeknownst to him, his young son saw his boot prints in the snow and followed them all the way to the bar. This father was a horrible example. "Like father, like son" is great when the father leads an exemplary life but disastrous when there are habits or sins that are detrimental. My father lived wisely--had good farming practices, was a careful bookkeeper, and was esteemed in the neighborhood. My brothers who carried on farming followed his good example.
The teacher can only take the disciple as far as he has gone--to the skill level he has developed. In Pakistan there were many skilled tradespeople but the shop I took my Toyota Corolla to for an engine overhaul wasn't so good. Sure, they replaced the rings on the pistons and cleaned things up but on the very first trip up the mountain, the engine developed a scary knock. So, I nurtured it back home and took the engine apart myself. The 'teacher' hadn't bothered to get the crankshaft ground and then replace the worn out connecting rod bearings--the only proper way of doing this.
Remember the saying "values are caught and not taught"? When I was mentoring my replacement at Bach Christian Hospital in Pakistan, I saw how quickly he caught any negative attitude I had towards other people. In hindsight I regret not being more gracious in difficult situations. In the spiritual sense all of the above lessons apply--we can only take a new believer as far as we have gone in spiritual maturity.Years ago my wife and I participated in a conference titled 'Basic Youth Conflicts'. The speaker showed how the past mistakes and sins can cast a shadow on the present. He emphasized God's forgiveness when we confess our sins and that God gives assurance of salvation. Each of us received a pin with the letters "PBPWMGINFWMY"(Please Be Patient With Me, God is Not Finished With Me Yet). How true...God is still working on me! I want to extend the same grace towards others.
Dear Jesus, help me to grow in my relationship with you and others. Amen.
