2 Corinthians 12:18 I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not act in the same spirit and follow the same course?

It strikes me that Paul had great confidence in those he had trained. Many people are aware of his close relationship with Timothy, but here Titus is spoken of as practically a clone of Paul. We are to be disciples of Jesus Christ for precisely the same reason, and we are to choose our human mentors for the degree to which they seem to be disciples of Christ. We become like those we imitate! It is common but relatively insignificant to see students take on their teacher’s mannerisms. What is of far more importance is that we take our values and goals ultimately from Christ, whoever might be the channel of their coming to us. Here, Paul had absolutely no worry that Titus might have deceived or defrauded the Corinthian believers, because he could boldly say they had the same heart, that is, attitude and motivation. Education has become far more impersonal than it was back then, so this sort of connection has been blurred, and that’s a shame. Another word for all of this is impartation. Paul had imparted himself into Titus, Timothy, and others, to the degree that they were exten­sions of His ministry. They were their own men, and they went on to train up others, just as Paul wrote for Timothy to do. (2 Timothy 2:2) That is precisely what Jesus did with His 12 apostles. They didn’t respond identically, and Judas even jumped ship entirely, so we aren’t to expect, much less require, that those we mentor copy us exactly, but the Biblical pattern is clear.

Thinking about it, those I have raised up have indeed loved the Word and expected God to speak to them through it. That’s my greatest satisfaction. It is amusing, and not very important, that many have caught “the pun disease” as well! It was not deliberate, but my own speech and mannerisms are so much like that of my father that a pastor who was raised up under his ministry wept when he watched me perform a wedding in that pastor’s church, I was so much like my father. I don’t object to that in any way, but the spiritual elements are far more important. In recent years I’ve heard the term “spiritual DNA” used a good bit, and I think it’s appropriate. I’m very grateful to carry my father’s physical and spiritual DNA, and I trust that the spiritual DNA will be carried on through multiple generations, for the glory of God.

Father, thank You for this clear Word. Guide me in sharing it Sunday, and in raising up my spiritual children as You intend. Thank You for the awareness that I can’t possibly do it on my own, but that You are more than capable of doing it through me. May we all be Your children indeed, accurately reflecting Your Son to the world around us, so that many more may repent and believe, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!