Who's Your Timothy?

Continuing our study of the book " The 11........" by Leonard Sweet, in the chapter " Withness 4:  Who's Your Timothy?"  he talks about the importance of discipling and that " If the church members have a responsibility to replicate themselves in the form of a new converts, how much more should church leaders replicate themselves in the form of new ministerial candidates?.............Cloning isn't present in the Bible either.  Joshua is not a Moses clone.  Timothy was not a Paul Clone."

The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. Exodus 33:11

¹⁶ “May the LORD, the God who gives breath to all living things, appoint someone over this community ¹⁷ to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the LORD’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”
 ¹⁸ So the LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership,^[a] and lay your hand on him. Numbers 27:16-18

So just as Paul was careful to start his letters off regarding his young apprentice Timothy, you see where Moses was intentional about including Joshua (one of the 12 spies, and only one of 2 that brought back a positive report) to accompany him even when it came to meeting with God, and how he (mentioned in Exodus 33:11) opted to stay in the tent of meeting, in the presence of God.  So who's the younger individual that you are pouring yourself into; that you are discipling?  That when people see you....that person isn't far behind?  That you are passing the baton off to?

The truth is I believe we were all a Timothy once....think about who wasn't that mentored or discipled you?  Now, the expectancy is that you should be doing it for someone else.  Sweet is onto something, because the risk is, if you aren't discipling or mentoring someone, you end up with the book of Judges, where there is no leader (because Joshua discipled no one), and people are doing what they want to do.   Your goal in life she be pretty clear based on scripture...." Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  No need to provide you with any other challenge than this because it (your life) should be about further His Kingdom, not your agenda, for His Glory!  LGLP