Today’s Readings:
2 Timothy 1:1-8
Psalm 96:1-3,7-8,10
Mark 4:26-34

Our world is suffering from a lack of tradition. The Latin word which is translated in English as “tradition” means “to hand on”, “to pass on”, and “to bequeath (something) valuable to another”. Our world suffers from a lack of this for two simple reasons:
We have people who want to remain relevant and popular and do not want others to succeed them. These people have serious self-esteem issues.
We have people who are not open to mentorship and guidance because they want to do things their way. These people are deluded and remain stunted.
Saint Paul served as a great mentor to Saints Timothy and Titus whom we celebrate today. Paul entrusted Timothy with the care of the Christians in Ephesus and sent Titus to Crete to look after the Christians there. He wrote them letters, giving them valuable advice on how to care for the flock entrusted to them. Great people possess the ability to spot persons with potential and raise them to be as good as themselves and even better than they are. Mentoring others means that you are aware that they may fail but you trust them enough to train them. The skill of mentorship is needed in the home (by parents), in corporate organisations, in the Church and in day-to-day life where you can hand on and receive moral guidance, soft and hard skills, spiritual direction and be street-smart. Mentoring provides an opportunity for both mentors and mentees to grow. If we do not grow, we die.
Like mustard seeds, ideas are sown in your mind, good and bad alike. Which are you taking to heart? Which are you nurturing? If you have received good seeds from your home and those who you allow to guide you, are you allowing yourself to grow or are you choosing to do as you please? Our generation will answer for our stubbornness and hardness of heart to God’s word. May we not be condemned in Jesus’ name.
JUDE-MARY OWOH
To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud:
Father, I acknowledge my sin against You. I repent and ask for forgiveness, in the name of Jesus. I believe and surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, take control of my heart and lead me in Your path of righteousness. Thank You, Lord! If you said the above short prayer, Congratulations! Prayerfully look for a living church and report to the resident reverend, pastor or priest.
Prayer:
May God raise among us good teachers who will guide us on the path of holiness and the fear of God through Christ our Lord.
May all parents and future parents learn to walk in the path of the Lord like Lois and Eunice who brought Timothy up in the way of the Lord in Jesus’ name.
May God grant you wisdom to choose good friends and stay away from people who mean to destroy you in the name of friendship in Jesus’ name.
May all intending couples honour God in their relationships, eliminate sin and selfishness and grow to love each other as Christ loves His church—with unconditional love in Jesus’ name.
May we consciously imbibe the teachings of the Scriptures and live in a way that pleases God instead of doing what pleases us in Jesus’ name.
May we desire God’s company just as we desire human company and grow to love Him and see Him in our neighbour in Jesus’ name?
May our leaders and governments work for the good of the people they lead and not just work out of selfish interest in Jesus’ name.
May we be conscious that our actions are forming us into who we shall present to God on Judgment Day? May we not be condemned because we refused to change in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.
Lord, help me by your grace to fan the flame of my faith and be a shining light in my work, my relationships and my race of salvation through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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