Discipleship

I went out for a coffee with a friend and brother in the LORD yesterday morning. (For those of you who know me, I don't drink coffee.....but my tea was great). My friend is an older man who attends another church. He is a wise man, full of knowledge and experience. He loves the Lord greatly and it is evident in his words and deeds. We had a great time talking about the things of the Lord, the "spiritual body" awaiting believers at the resurrection, the incredible miracles of Jesus during His earthly ministry which defied the laws of science and some other things that were happening in our personal lives.
It was a time of real fellowship, as our thoughts and conversation rarely diverted away from Jesus, which is to His glory, not ours.
But what I noticed him doing, without saying it or defining it was discipleship. Here he was, an older, seasoned man, taking on the younger, sharing his struggles, prayers, expectations, and love for the Lord Jesus Christ.He reminded me of our mutual Master, the Lord Jesus.......
As Jesus ministered and preached the kingdom of God, He stressed the vital importance of not only sharing the life giving news of the Gospel, but also the need for discipleship.
Jesus knew the need for young Christians to have older, mature, experienced and knowledgeable Christians to help them along in their walk with the Lord and to survive the temptations of this world. 
No loving parent would leave their young children to learn to walk across the street alone, without first modeling and guiding those first experiences to ensure they would be safe and successful. How much more prevalent is this in regards to the spiritual lives of believers?
There is safety in numbers. There is no such thing as a lone ranger Christian.....to travel this world alone, without the accountability and wisdom of teachers and friends is foolhardy, and may be a sign of sinful pride.
Discipleship was the model Jesus used while on the earth. He gathered 12 men to "mentor" under Him, learning from His example and gaining wisdom through His divine teaching. Meanwhile, He also taught and cared for hundreds of others simultaneously.
After Jesus ascended to heaven, the apostles and those early disciples took on the mantra of teachers and mentors. That model has been handed down through the centuries and shouldn't stop just because the Lord is returning soon. I am thankful for the mentors in my life, as I now realize I'm a mentor to those younger and more inexperienced than I.........what a responsibility and privileged as I echo the words of Paul in Philippians "Therefore, my beloved, whom I long to see, my joy and my crown, stand firm in the Lord, my beloved." Philippians 4:1.

I cherish these moments with my friend. A man who knows we all need discipleship, no matter the age and is a great example to us all. A man who looks more and more like Jesus everyday.........