Monthly Archives: January 2017

Aim For Perfection

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Mind - 2 Corinthians 13:11 - Aim For Perfection - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Mind – 2 Corinthians 13:11 – Aim For Perfection – Growing As Disciples

Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV)

Aim 

What is your aim in life? What goal would you like to complete? What mission must you accomplish for you to consider your life to be a success? Fulfilling what purpose would give your life meaning? These are very important questions for me to consider. If I do not carefully consider these questions I might end up living an aimless life that would be without a goal to complete or a mission to accomplish. Without answering these questions, I might live a life without meaning and purpose. If I don’t take time to answer these questions I would have no way to evaluate if I am making any real progress in life. That’s right. Your answers to these questions will alter your course in life. Your answers to these questions will give you an aim, goal, purpose and mission in life.  

Do you have any answers to these questions? Yes, I do. My aim in life is to know and love you. There is nothing more that I want in life than to know and love you. Knowing and loving you will change me. If I come to know and love you, I will become like you. I will think like you think. I will do what you did. I will speak like you spoke. There is nothing about my life that will not be changed and transformed by knowing and loving you. Knowing you will change my heart. Knowing you will transform my mind. All my thoughts, words, and deeds will be completely different because I will have known and loved you. If I know and love you I will be able to know your will. If I know and love you I will be able to walk in your ways. If I know and love you my life will be filled with hope and meaning and purpose. I will want to go where you guide me. I will want to do all that you ask of me. I will not live my life for myself. I will live my life for you. I will live my life for others. Knowing and loving you will form every one of my thoughts. Knowing and loving you will guide every one of my words. Knowing and loving you will direct every one of my deeds. Knowing and loving you will make me into the person you have designed me to be. If I have known and loved you, I will become mature and complete in you. This is what I want. This is my aim. That is my goal. This is my mission in life. Knowing and loving you is my hope that gives me meaning and purpose in life. That is very good. You have answered my questions well. You will have what you desire as you love, follow and serve me.

Lord, it is my desire and aim to grow into complete maturity as your follower. I know that I have fallen far short of that goal. Holy Spirit, give me the strength and power to think, act and live in accordance with God’s word and will. Amen

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

The Mind – 2 Corinthians 13-11 – Aim For Perfection – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Serve Wholeheartedly

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Servanthood - Ephesians 6:7-8 - Serve Wholeheartedly - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Servanthood – Ephesians 6:7-8 – Serve Wholeheartedly – Growing As Disciples

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. Ephesians 6:7-8 (NIV)

Your Work 

In the past I have not always had the best attitude about my work. Frequently I have moaned and groaned about my job. I have gone along to get along. I have done just a little more than enough to get by. I have dreaded each day of work and looked forward to when I would be off work. My heart has certainly not been fully in my work. My effort has been nothing that could be called anything like wholehearted. I have always known that I could do better. I have always thought that I could work harder and accomplish more.

Why haven’t you always worked hard and accomplished more? At times my attitude and perspective have been all wrong. I have thought that I was working at a job to please an employer. So, I would do just enough to satisfy my boss. Who is your employer and your boss? That is a very important question. The answer to that question has changed my entire attitude and perspective about my work. How so? I have come to realize that I am not working for an earthly employer and boss. I am working for you. You see my effort. You see all that I have accomplished. You know how hard I have worked. You know if my effort has been half-hearted. Yes, I do. One day I want to hear you say, “Well done, good and faithful servant”. I will never hear that if my work is half-hearted. No, you will not. But, you are now giving yourself fully to the work that I have set before you. Yes, I am. That pleases me. 

I am glad that you want to serve me with all your heart. As you give yourself fully to your work you will be a bright and shining witness for me in the world. There is something important that I want you to know. What’s that? You are a very hard worker. I have seen all your hard work. You stick to a job and don’t give up. You persevere and keep on going. You are tenacious in your efforts. That brings me to a concern that I have for you. What’s that? You can work too hard. You can be too focused. You can burn yourself out physically, emotionally and spiritually. I don’t want you to be always working. There is a time to rest and relax. There is a time to be renewed, refreshed and revived. You cannot keep on serving me with all your heart if you don’t continually take steps be renewed, refreshed and revived. There is a time to leave your work and come to me. Come rest and relax in my presence. Let me give you new strength to serve me. Yes, Lord, I will.

Lord, I have allowed myself to become depleted. I’m worn out physically, emotionally and spiritually. There is no wonder why I have not been joyfully serving you. Help me to have new zeal, meaning, purpose and wholehearted attitude in the work I do for you. Amen

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

Servanthood – Ephesians 6-7-8 – Serve Wholeheartedly – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

Do Not Let

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Freedom - Galatians 5:1 - Do Not Let - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Freedom – Galatians 5:1 – Do Not Let – Growing As Disciples

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 (NIV)

Stand Firm

You have been set free. I have broken the power of sin over your life. You are no longer a slave to sin. You are no longer living in bondage. Sin does not control your life. You are not living for sinful passions or carnal desires. You are living the life that I have called you to live. You are living a life that is pleasing to me.  

Keep following me. Keep on running well. Don’t let sin of any kind once again put a yoke of slavery on you. Be alert. Stand firm. Be on guard against anything and everything that might tempt you to sin against me. Don’t ever allow yourself to think that living your life with and for me consists of following a set of rules and regulations and laws. That would be just one more yoke of slavery that would be a heavy burden on you.

I purchased your salvation. You did not earn or merit the new life that you have in me. Your forgiveness and cleansing came to you as a gift that I have given to you. You have received my gift. Continue to live in it. I am your Lord and Savior. You are my follower. Draw near to me and I will draw near to you. Live in my love. Follow and obey my commandments. Live your life with and for me. 

Separate yourself from what is evil. Remove yourself from temptations and sins of every kind. You know where you should not go. You know what you should not do. Run away from evil and pursue me. Pursue the life that I have for you. Live for my purposes. Follow my plans. Let me use you for my kingdom. Let your life bring glory to my name. Bear an abundance of fruit for my kingdom.

Rely on me. I will help you. I will change your heart. I will transform your mind. You will no longer desire your old life of sin. You will desire me and the life that I have for you. I will strengthen you. I will guard you. I will guide you. I will make you able to stand. I will strengthen you against every temptation and evil. You will live your life fully for me. Yes, Lord, I will stand firm with all the strength that you will give to me. That will be very good.

Lord, I know that I could never live a life that is pleasing to you by following a system of laws. Trying to do that would just be another type of entanglement in a yoke of slavery to sin. Help me to stand firm and live in all the freedom that you have secured for me. Amen

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

Freedom – Galatians 5-1 – Do Not Let – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Crave Pure Spiritual Milk

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Transformation - 1 Peter 2:1-3 - Crave Pure Spiritual Milk - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Transformation – 1 Peter 2:1-3 – Crave Pure Spiritual Milk – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:1-3 (NIV)

Crave

“Crave”, now that is quite a word. What does the word crave mean to you? When I crave something, I can’t live without what I am craving. When I crave something, it is constantly on my mind. I can think of little, maybe even nothing else, when I am craving something. Exactly! Could you hold on to deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander in your heart and mind when you are craving my word? No, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander are very far from my mind when I am craving your word. Why is that? I can’t let my craving for your word go unfed. When I am craving your word, I feed that craving by feasting on your word. When I am feasting on your word, your word has all my attention and focus. I want to hear and obey your word. I want to know and do your will. I want to walk in your ways by putting your word into practice. Feasting on your word has had the effect of completely pushing deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander completely out of my heart and mind and life. I will tell you what. What? There are many other very negatives and sinful thoughts, attitudes and actions that your word has pushed completely out of my heart and mind and life. That is very good. Yes, it is. I am so very thankful for how your word has been changing my heart and transforming my mind. I can’t tell you how many negative and sinful thoughts, attitudes and actions that are no longer in my heart and mind and life because your word has pushed them right out of me, as I have feasted on your word. You could tell me. Yes, I could. But, I already know. I’m sure of that.

What else has craving and feasting on my word done for you? As I have feasted on your word I have tasted of your goodness. I have come to know and love you more and more every day as I have met with you in your word. It is now the desire of my heart to love you with all my heart and mind and soul in strength. Above all else in life, I want to know and love and follow and serve you. There is nothing I wouldn’t do or no place I wouldn’t go to serve you. I want to know and do your will. I want to accomplish your purposes and plans. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I want to completely grow up in you and fully live the life that you have given me to live. That is very good.

Lord, I crave your word. I hunger for your word. I want to feast on your word. Every day I want to take in a steady diet of your word. Help me to hear and obey your word. Use your word to change my heart and transform my mind so I can grow strong in you. Amen

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

Transformation – 1 Peter-2-1-3 – Crave Pure Spiritual Milk – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Ineffective And Unproductive

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - 2 Peter 1:8-9 - Ineffective And Unproductive - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – 2 Peter 1:8-9 – Ineffective And Unproductive – Growing As Disciples

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 2 Peter 1:8-9 (NIV)

An Instrument

Do you want to bear fruit for me? Do you want to bear an abundance of fruit for my kingdom? Do you want to bring glory to my name? Do you want me to be able to use you as my instrument in this world? Do you want to be able to go and do the good works that I have planned for you to do for me? Do you want to be found faithful in my sight? Do you want to one day hear me say, “Well done, good and faithful servant?” Lord, you know my answers to your questions. Yes, I do. I want you to hear your answers to my questions. I want them to be front and center in your heart and mind and life. I passionately want to say an emphatic yes to all that you are asking of me. I don’t want anything to hinder me from being fruitful for your kingdom and bringing glory to your name. I don’t want to fail to do anything that you have planned and prepared for me to do for you. I don’t want to look back from heaven to this life and see what I could have done or could have been for you. I want you to be able to accomplish all your purposes and plans in and through my life. I want to fully do all that you have made and designed me to do for you. I want to be your instrument in this world. I want to be completely in tune with you. That is very good. 

Is there more that you want to say? Yes, I have more to say. Only you can make me faithful. Only you can bear fruit through my life. Only you can make me able to accomplish your purpose and plans. Only you can help me to bring glory to your name. On my own I can do none of these things. That’s right. I desperately need your help. You do need my help. You do need to rely on me. I will make you faithful. I will make you fruitful. I will make you able to accomplish my purposes and plans. You will bring glory to my name. Will you allow me to develop my character in you? Yes, Lord, I will. Then one day you will hear me say, “Well done, good and faithful servant because you will have been my instrument in the world.” You will have remained in tune with me.

Lord, my character needs work. I don’t want anything in my character to hinder my fruitfulness in serving you. Use your word to speak into my life. Mold and shape my life by your word. Develop Godly character in me so that I will be abundantly fruitful for you. Amen

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

Character – 2 peter-1-8-9 – Ineffective And Unproductive – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Refused To Be Known As

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Identity - Hebrews 11:24-27 - Refused To Be Known As - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Identity – Hebrews 11:24-27 – Refused To Be Known As – Growing As Disciples

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. Hebrews 11:24-27 (NIV)

Your Choice

How you live your life will be your choice. You can live for the pleasures of sin for a short time. You can chase after all that the world offers. You can choose to live for the praise of the world and the applause of this life. You can focus all of your attention entirely on the here and now with no thought for the future. You can fix your eyes on what is seen and be completely blind to what is unseen. You can pursue pleasure and live entirely for comfort. You can do whatever you please, whenever you please. I’m glad to know that I have choices to make. I don’t like the sound of the choices that you have described to me so far though. Why is that? You know why. Yes, I do. I have made many of these choices. I have lived this empty life. I have discovered that the pleasures of sin last only for a very short time. Then come the consequences of a sin filled life that is lived entirely for comfort and pleasure. This is a pain filled life. This is an empty life that leads nowhere. This is a life without hope. Why is that? This is a life that is without you. Yes, it is.

I don’t want to live a life without you. That is not my choice. What is your choice? I will not chase after what the world offers. Instead, I will chase after a life that is pleasing to you. I want to love you and follow you and serve you. I want to know you. I want to live my life with and for you. I want my heart and mind to be set on you. I want my eyes to be focused on you and the life that you have given me to live both now and forever. I want the way that I live my life to make me easily identifiable as one of your followers. I want to shine brightly for you in the world. I will not pursue the world. I will not seek the praise of the world and the applause of this life. What will you seek? I will seek to know and do your will. I will seek to walk in ways. I will seek you. I will love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. This is my choice. You have made a very good choice.

Lord, I want to be easily identifiable as one of your followers. I want to live my life in every way that is pleasing to you. I want to shine brightly as a witness for you in the world. I will choose loving, following and obeying you over the temporary pleasures of sin. Amen

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

Identity – Hebrews 11-24-27 – Refused To Be Known As – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

The Battle Is The Lord’s

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Knowing God - 1 Samuel 17-45-47 - The Battle Is The Lord's - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Knowing God – 1 Samuel 17-45-47 – The Battle Is The Lord’s – Growing As Disciples

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:45-47 (NIV)

Rely On Me

You will face many battles in life. You can be sure of that. Each battle will present you with a choice. What choice is that? You will be asked if you are going to rely on me or are you going to rely on yourself. You may think that you can make this choice once for all time. It would even be good to make your choice now in advance. But you must reaffirm again and again whatever choice you make now. Well, I have made my choice. I am not going to rely on myself. I am going to rely on you. You have made a good choice.

It is easy to say that you will rely on me to fight with you and for you in the battles of life. It will be much harder for you to learn to fully rely on me. Why is that? You tell me. I have an independent and self-sufficient nature within me. It is good that you are aware of that. How have your battles in life gone when you have relied completely on yourself? I have lost many battles simply because I have relied on myself rather than relying on you. That’s right.

When you rely on yourself I don’t mind watching you loose battles. Do you know why that is? It is more important to you that I come to know and rely on you rather than whether I win or lose a battle. Yes, it is. Don’t be confused though, I don’t want you to loose battles. I have no pleasure when you have to learn a painful lesson by loosing a battle.

When you have relied on me in the battles of life what has happened to you? As I have relied in the battles of life I have come to know you better. Yes, you have.  My faith in you has grown, as I have known that you are fighting with me and for me. Yes, it has. You have received honor and glory in the victories that you have won for me. Others have been drawn to you as they have seen you lead me in victory. It has been my joy to know that I am really living my life with and for you as I am relying on you in the battles of life. Will you continue to rely on me to fight with you and for you in the battles of life? Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, I know I will face many battles in life. I also know I will have a choice to make. Will I rely on you or on myself to fight the battles in life? I will tell you now. I will rely on you to fight with me and for me in every battle that I will face in life.  Amen

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

Knowing God – 1 Samuel 17-45-47 – The Battle Is The Lord’s – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

No One Can Boast

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - So That - Ephesians 2:8-10 - No One Can Boast - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – So That – Ephesians 2:8-10 – No One Can Boast – Growing As Disciples

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV)

Masterpiece

You are my workmanship. You are my masterpiece. I created you for a purpose. I had a plan in mind when I made you. I prepared good works in advance for you to do for me. I’m so excited to hear this from you. I couldn’t be more delighted. I want to be used by you. It is my joy and pleasure to serve you. I welcome your work in my life. I want you to mold and shape me into a living masterpiece that will bring honor to your name. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and glory. That is exactly what I will do in and through you.

Let’s take a pause here for a moment. There is one thing that I always want you to remember. What’s that? You can’t merit or earn your salvation. You have received your salvation and have faith in me as a free gift. Yes, I have. I know that all I have received from you has come to me as a gift. My service to you is being given because I love you. I’m not trying to earn your love or your favor. Why is that? You already love me. You have already shown me your favor. My service to you is not being given in an attempt to pay you back for all that you have done for me. Why is that? I could never pay you back. To even try to pay you back would be a sin. Your gift of salvation would not be a gift at all if I had to pay you back. That’s right. I am indebted to you however. What do you mean by that? Maybe, I’m not expressing myself correctly. Here is what I mean. Because you love me I love you. Because you gave yourself to me I’m giving myself fully to you. Because you have done so much for me I’m giving you all my thanks and praise.  I’m not trying to pay you back. I’m not trying to earn anything from you. It is just my desire to love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. So, when you say that you have good things planned in advance for me to do my only questions are, “When and where do I start?” Those are good questions.

You start by listening to me. You continue by following me. You do know that apart from me you can do nothing that will bear real fruit and last for all eternity? Yes, I know that. Then listen to me. Then follow me. I will speak so that you can hear from me. I will lead you to where I want you to be. I will give you what I want you to do for me. Yes, Lord, that is exactly what I will do. That will be very good.

Lord, thank you for making my salvation and faith in you available to me as a free gift. Keep molding and shaping my life. Make me into the masterpiece that you want me to be. Guide me to do the good works that you have planned in advance for me to do. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship study guide click here:

So That – Ephesians 2-8-10 – No One Can Boast – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

So I Say Live By The Spirit

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Guidance - Galatians 5:16-18 - So I Say Live By The Spirit - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Guidance – Galatians 5:16-18 – So I Say Live By The Spirit – Growing As Disciples

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. Galatians 5:16-18 (NIV)

Feast And Famine

Do you want to live your life for me? Yes, I want to live my life fully and completely for you. What must I do since I want to live my life for you? You know the answer to your own question. You tell me. I must do two things in living my life for you. That’s right. I must live by your Spirit. How will you live by my Spirit? I must listen to you. I must follow you to where you lead me. I must do all that you ask of me. How will you go about listening to me? How will you receive guidance from me? I will set aside a time and a place to meet with you in your word. I will allow you to speak your word into my life. I will let your word dwell in me richly. Your word will do its work in me. How so? Your word will change my heart and transform my mind. Yes, it will. Your Spirit will take your word and use it as a sword to fight in me, with me, and for me. Your word will make me able to stand against temptation. Your word will strengthen my desire to live by your Spirit. Your word will give me a hunger to know you and a desire to walk in your ways. Your word will make me able to resist the desires of the sinful nature. Say more about that. 

I mentioned that I must do two things if I want to live my life for you. Yes, you did. I have talked about living by your Spirit. At the same time that I am living by your Spirit I must also refrain from gratifying the desires of the sinful nature. Living by your Spirit and gratifying the desires of sinful are in opposition to each other. Yes, they are. How will you refrain from gratifying the desires of the sinful nature? In answer to your question I think of two words. I think of the words feast and famine. I will feast on your word and the new life in the Spirit that you have for me. I will put gratifying the desires of the sinful nature on a famine diet. How will you do that? As I am living my new life in the Spirit I will separate myself from anything and everything that feeds the desires of the sinful nature. Then I will live my life fully and completely for you. That will be very good.

Lord, I will separate myself from whatever feeds temptation and sinful desires within me. Instead I will take part in what helps me to live by the Spirit. For example, I will allow the Spirit to use your word to help me to stand against temptation and sinful desires. Amen

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

Guidance – Galatians 5-16-18 – So I Say Live By The Spirit – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Flee From All This And Pursue Righteousness

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Discipleship Study - Rhythms - 1 Timothy 6:11-12 - Flee - Pursue - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Study – Rhythms – 1 Timothy 6:11-12 – Flee – Pursue – Growing As Disciples

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:11-12 (NIV)

Take Hold

Do you want to take hold of the life of salvation that you have in me? Do you want to live the life that I have given you to live? Yes, I want nothing more than and nothing less than to live the life that you have given me to live. How can I fully take hold of the life of salvation that I have in you? How can I live my life fully with and for you? Those are very good questions that I know you can answer. Have you started to notice that I won’t answer a question that I know you can already answer? Yes, I have just started to notice that. It took me awhile. You won’t mind if I keep asking you a lot of questions. No, you can ask me any question. Don’t be real surprised when I ask you to answer some of your own questions. I will be listening to every word that you have to say. There is one more time when I might not give you an answer to your questions. When is that? I won’t give you an answer to your questions when my answer is already right in front of your eyes as you look in my word. That’s the case right now, isn’t it? Yes, it is.

What answer to your questions is my word giving to you? If I want to take hold of the life of salvation I have in you I will do two things. If I want to live the life that you have given to me I will do two things. What are the two things you must do? Tell me what two things you will do as you continue to live your life with and for me? First, I will flee the desire for more. I will flee the desire for worldly wealth and earthly possessions. I will not try to find my peace and joy and contentment through all that the world has to offer. I will not allow my life to become a continue quest for more. I will get off that never ending treadmill. I will step away from worldly desires that will lead me away from you and the life that you have for me. That will be very good. There is more. I’m listening. Second, as I am fleeing worldly desires I will pursue you and the life that you have for me. I will pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Will these be easy to pursue? No, I will need all the help that you will give to me. I will need to come to rely on you for strength. Yes, you will. Fleeing worldliness and pursuing the righteous life you have given me to live will be a battle. It will be a fight. But, I know that you will help me to take hold of my salvation and fight the battle of faith as I pursue you. Yes, you will have my help. You will have my strength.I will help you to pursue me and the life I have for you.

Lord, I have found myself being captivated by the things of this world. I have had to fight against the continual desire for more. Help me to be content with what I have. Help me to flee worldly pursuits so that I can pursue you and the life that you have for me. Amen

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

Rhythms – 1-Timothy 6-11-12 – Flee – Pursue – 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