Monthly Archives: March 2014

The Two Sons

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Parable Of The Two Sons - Matthew 21:28-32 - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Parable Of The Two Sons – Matthew 21:28-32 – Growing As Disciples

“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.  Matthew 21:28-31 (NIV)

What Do You Think?

What do you think?  About what?  What thoughts do you let occupy your mind?  I’m not sure what you’re asking.  The thoughts that you have in your mind and entertain in your heart will guide the course of your life.  Can you give me an example?  I would be happy to.  At one time you had it in your mind that you were pretty special.  You thought you had the world by the tail.  You didn’t think you needed any help from anyone.   You were independent, headstrong, pride-filled and stubborn.  Yes, I sure was.  You were like your own little god.  You certainly didn’t want or need me in your life.  Yes, that is sad but true.  You lived entirely for your own comfort and pleasure.  You did what you wanted, when you wanted it. Yes, I did.  Now, why don’t you finish the story and tell me how your thinking changed.  Alright, I’d be happy too.

My life was really headed in the wrong direction away from you.  I was living a dark and sinful life.  Soon enough I began to suffer the consequences of my sinful life.  The wages my sinful life paid was brokenness, pain and suffering.  My life began to fall apart.  I began to see that I wasn’t as strong and smart as I thought I was.  My pain overcame my pride.  I know that I needed help so I cried out to the only one I thought would help me.  That was you.  You answered my cry.  Yes, I did.  What did you do?  I turned away from my sinful life to follow you.  I asked you to be my Savior and Lord.  Yes, you did.  So your emphatic no to me became a yes to me, is that right?  Yes, that’s right.  Your change of mind and heart is now directing the course of your life.  It sure is.

Do you see any possible dangers ahead to avoid?  Yes, I do.  What are they?  First, let me say that I want my life to continue to be a constant day by day, moment by moment, yes to you.  Why is that?  It’s not because I’m now religious.  It’s because I have a relationship with you.  You love me.  Yes, I do.  My love for you gives me delight to do what pleases you.  So, what’s the danger?  I don’t ever want to slip into becoming a religious person that obeys you because I should obey you.  What do you think would happen then?  I’d stop following you and go back to doing pretty much my own thing.  On the outside I’d probably still look quite religious but my heart would be far from you.  Yes, it would.  But, the good thing is that won’t happen.  Why not?  You tell me.  We love each other too much to ever let that happen.  That’s right.  Keep loving me and delighting to do my will and you’ll never waver off course.  Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, I know that there is a big difference between being self-righteous, moral, and religious and living a life of faith in you. I love you Lord. It is my desire to live for you and work in your vineyard, as I love, follow and serve you in this life.  Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Parables – Matthew 21-28-31 – The Two Sons – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                                                        Copying not permitted                                                                                    www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

The Unmerciful Servant

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Parables - Matthew 18:23-34 - The Unmerciful Servant - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Parables – Matthew 18:23-34 – The Unmerciful Servant – Growing As Disciples

“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.” Matthew 18:32-35 (NIV)

Weight Lifted

I want you to do something for me.  Anything Lord, you just say the word.  What is it?  I want you to think about all the people that have hurt you in some way throughout your life.  That might take some time.  I’m sure that it will.  It’s going to be a fairly long list.  The longer, the better.  I don’t want you to forget anyone or anything that has been done to you.  This seems like kind of a weird request coming from you.  Yes, I’m sure that it does.  Take however long you need to today to work on your list and come back to me.  Will you do that?  Yes Lord, I will.

I’m back.  That took quite a while.  Yes it did.  Is your list as exhaustive as it can possibly be?  I think so.  Do you have all your enemies written down?  Yes, it was easy to remember them.  How about everyone that has cheated, lied or stolen from you? They’re all on here.  How about people who broke their promises or betrayed you?  Oh, a couple more names just came to mind.  Write them down.  Got it.  Do you have everyone that hurt, rejected, judged or manipulated you?  You weren’t kidding about not leaving any names off the list.  No, I wasn’t.  Ok, I’ve added a few more names.  How about anyone who disappointed you, didn’t follow through or live up to your expectations?  Slow down a little bit.  I’m writing.  Has anyone ever used, rejected or devalued you?  Yes!  Are they on the list?  Not yet.  I’ll wait.  Are you done now?  Yes, I think so.  That’s good.

What would you like to do with the people on that list?  Could you zap them for me?  No, I cannot.  This is a serious moment for you, let’s not joke around.  Alright, I’m just a little nervous about how long this list is.  Why is that?  I’m pretty sure that I shouldn’t have this kind of a list.  Why not?  It’s a really heavy burden to carry.  How so?  It has worn me out carrying anger and unforgiveness around for so long.  Yes, it has.  That’s why I had you make a list.  I wanted you to see that you are being weighed down by unforgiveness.  I’m getting a pretty clear picture right now, that’s for sure.

What do you want to do with all these people on your list?  I want to do for them what you’ve done for me.  What’s that?  I want to love and forgive them.  There are some pretty nasty people on your list.  Are you sure you want to forgive them?  I was once a pretty nasty person.  Yes, you were.  You forgave me.  Yes, I did.  So, yes I want to forgive everyone on my list.  I want to do for them what you’ve done for me.  So, I’m forgiving them all right now.  That’s very good.  How do you feel?  Like a weight has been lifted.  As a matter of fact, it has.

Lord, you have forgiven me of an enormous debt of sin, at great cost to you, that I could never hope to repay. I am so thankful for your forgiveness. Help me to have a forgiving heart towards others like you have had toward me. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Parables – Matthew 18-32-25 – The Unmerciful Servant – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                                                        Copying not permitted                                                                                    www.GrowingAsDisciples.com